Working in a hospital is stressful; teamwork will create less tension among workers.
Often effective teamwork in hospitals can be disrupted by diverse styles of management, gender and status differences, lack of communication and competitive demands on different departments. Teamwork among the members of a hospital can result in better patient care and a more enjoyable work environment, if everyone remembers that the main goal is the same: quality health care.
Better Patient Care
Priorities are necessary in hospital settings. Just because a doctor has been employed by the hospital for many years, it does not mean that his patients, lab work or demands are any more important than those of other doctors, or other members of the staff. If proper teamwork regulations are in place to establish priority, better patient care will result and the hospital as a whole will be a less stressful environment (see ref. 2).
Quality Work Environment
People who work in a hospital situation know manage high-stress situations, but frustrations can build. Working as a team will reduce situations where an employee feels overwhelmed by his workload or the temperament of an unpleasant staff member. Compassion and common courtesy are appropriate not only when communicating with patients; they are also vital in how you treat your coworkers.
Cost Cutting Benefits
Teamwork will not only cut down on duplicating efforts within a hospital setting, it also will cut costs (see ref. 1). During tough economic times, hospitals and health care providers decrease their number of employees in order to save costs. If everyone does his job in an efficient manner and is aware of the needs of other staff members, he can contribute to the overall morale. If for instance, he passes by the lab on the way to another department to pick up something for a coworker, he will instill a sense of camaraderie in that employee and make her want to do the same for others.
Improved Communication
Effective teamwork skills rely on basic communication within departments and all personnel. Often, different floors, wings and buildings of a hospital can seem like they are worlds apart, yet they all have the same goal. Using the intranet, regular staff meetings and high-priority e-mails will keep all members of the team updated on current policies, parts of the team that are short-handed and any aspects of the job that need fine-tuning.
Tags: Benefits Teamwork, better patient care, health care, patient care