Teamwork and Technology…Doing more together!

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." - Helen Keller

Health care is a diverse field where many specialties interact to provide patient care. I remember the “old days” of the hierarchical approach in healthcare. Now that style is transitioning to teamwork among all the specialties.  It has become increasingly important for the various disciplines to collaborate together in order to provide safe, quality and seamless care for all patients. In order to develop an appreciation for the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, students must be introduced to other health care disciplines during their education. Colleges need to offer interdisciplinary educational opportunities so that students will gain an understanding and appreciation for the various roles of each discipline before they enter the health workforce.

Technology is playing a vital role in the goal of teaching interdisciplinary collaboration. High fidelity simulation gives students an opportunity to develop clinical and interpersonal skills that they will need in 21^st century health care. Introducing collaboration in the safe, controlled environment of simulation is the best place to familiarize students with this concept. These simulation experiences promote communication, teamwork, delegation, priority setting, and leadership skills. The simulation of a mock code with medical, nursing, respiratory, and pharmacy students helps them to see their shared roles and responsibilities in caring for patients. This gives students a chance to identify the similarities and differences in their various roles and learn how to cooperate together.

An interdisciplinary approach in health care involves different professions contributing to patient care for a common goal. For interdisciplinary collaboration to be successful, trust and mutual respect are essential. The early exposure of students to interdisciplinary collaboration supports the graduate nurse in becoming a valuable team player in the 21^st century health care environment.