Advantages of Multidisciplinary/Interprofessional Working in Healthcare

This report discusses the advantages of multidisciplinary/interprofessional working in healthcare, including improved service coordination, communication, and referral process. It also explores the definition of multidisciplinary/interprofessional working, examples of models, barriers to team working, issues of professional boundaries, and relevant legislation and policies.

Study

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................3
Explanation of the advantages of multidisciplinary/inter professional working ............................3
Definition of multidisciplinary/inter professional working ............................................................3
Examples of model of multidisciplinary /inter professional working ............................................4
Explanation of the possible barriers to multi disciplinary/ inter professional team working .........5
Issues of professional boundaries ...................................................................................................6
Relevant legislation, models and policies that facilitate inter professional/multidisciplinary
working............................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES ....................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
In this following report, a case study of Ruskin Trust is discussed that provides acute
services to public of Ruskin. Another organisation i.e. RuskinShire County Council Social services
are not doing well and facing financial challenges (Youell, 2018). Thus these two have collaborated
and started business together. While accomplishing this plan, there were various issues and
problems that they have to face. The following report provides information related to roles and
responsibilities of team members, challenges faced by them, success of the collaboration, issues and
dynamics of team.
Explanation of the advantages of multidisciplinary/inter professional working
There are different advantages of inter professional working which are listed below -
 Empowers team members - Doctors are known as quarter back of patient care. These are
people who decide how patient is treated. In an inter professional working, different nurses,
radiologists, professionals and EMT's are working together and making recommendations
about patient care.
 Closes communication gaps - When there are medical and healthcare professionals are
working together in Ruskin, then communication gap between medical professionals in
minimised. Working independently results in missed symptoms or miscommunication about
patient needs.
 Improves service coordination – There are various commitments included in running a
healthcare organisation, there are greater efficiencies offered to patients. There is a
framework of uniformity given to each individual for improving treatments.
 Expedites the referral process - Inter professional teams formed in Ruskin organisation are
composed of specialists of specific fields. This means that patient who receive referral for
treatment, this will have access to individuals. Medical practitioners can work together to
get processes approved, delays minimised and treatments started for giving patients chance
to restore their health.
Definition of multidisciplinary/inter professional working
Multi disciplinary or inter professional working helps to maximise the outcome of service
provided by the organisation (Walsh, and ET. Al. , 2016). This is known as process in which
different types of staff work together and share, knowledge, expertise and skills for impacting
patient care. The multidisciplinary work has enabled setting of care, skill mix, individual

relationship, service organisation and management structures. In healthcare organisation, a dynamic
process is involved which comprises of two or more health professionals which share a common
health objective. This includes planning, assessing and evaluating patient care. In case of
RuskinShire Country Council Social service and Ruskin Trust they have planned to start new health
organisation which will enhance patient care. This collaboration can be successful by independent
collaboration, shared decision making and open communication. This has provided value added
patients, staff and organisational outcomes. The team members are responsible for working for
three levels which consists of patients, healthcare professional and healthcare organisation. This has
enhanced quality of care, staff satisfaction, retention, well being and control of costs, patient health.
Different team members are assigned for performing roles in order to enhance quality of health
care. The collaboration of different healthcare practitioners has enhanced the knowledge and skill
needed for providing comprehensive care to patients.
Examples of model of multidisciplinary /inter professional working
Conceptual model of inter professional working ha three faceted for successful
collaboration. This includes three factors including workplace conditions, qualities/attitudes and
common goals (Shamshirsaz, And Et. AL, 2017). The first thing is workplace condition.
Management and administration must work for creating positive environment at workplace. Ruskin
organisation has current supervisors who are embracing collaborative endeavors, valuing substantial
evaluations and reviews. Next step is qualities and attitudes and it is essential for Ruskin's health
care organisation to have cooperative and compromising attitude and respect towards treatment of
patients. Another step is having common goals. All the organisations who have decided to have
inter professional working must have common objectives.

Explanation of the possible barriers to multi disciplinary/ inter professional team working
Barriers for multidisciplinary team working of Ruskin are mentioned below -
Organisational barriers
 lack of knowledge and appreciation of the roles of other health professionals
 the need to make compelling arguments for team building to senior decision-makers
 lack of outcomes research on collaboration
 financial and regulatory constraints
 legal issues of scope of practice and liability
 reimbursement structures for different professions, including which services receive
reimbursement
 hierarchical administrative and educational structures that discourage inter professional
collaboration.
Barriers at the team level
 lack of a clearly stated, shared, and measurable purpose

 Lack of training in interprofessional collaboration
 Role and leadership ambiguity
 Team not composed of appropriate professionals
 Lack of appropriate mechanism for timely exchange of information
 Need for orientation for new members
 Lack of framework for problem discovery and resolution
 Difference in levels of authority, power, expertise, income,etc.
Issues of professional boundaries
The leaders of organisation have taken initiatives that there is no breach of rules and
regulations of running a health care organisation. It is important to follow ethical norms and values
while running organisation where medical practising takes place (Saunders, 2015). Professional
boundaries are defined as spaces between vulnerability of nurses and power of nurses. The power of
nurse arrives from professional position and having access to personal information. There should be
balance in between nurse and patient relationship. Nurses must make efforts for developing good
relation with patients. Boundary violations can occur when there is confusion between needs of
nurse and patients. It is strictly prohibited for nurses to use social media while they are on duty. As
per the regulations of this organisation, making comment through social media about any incident
or person in aspect of their employment can breach of confidentiality and privacy of patients.
Professional boundaries is reflects professional identity and self definition which cohesion and
consistency over time (Naugler, And Et. Al, 2015). This is defined as the framework in which client
and worker's relationship is occurred. The professional boundaries is important in work as it
provides safety for both client as well as worker. This enables minimisation of anxiety among
clients and workers. There are rules made for increasing well being of employees and staff in
healthcare organisation. This provides therapeutic environment within the organisation.
Relevant legislation, models and policies that facilitate inter professional/multidisciplinary working
There are a number legislative and policy developments which have contributed in use of
multidisciplinary teams. Single Assessment Process(SAP) was launched in the year 2003 as the way
for providing assessments for older adults who needs social and health care. Child and adolescent
mental health services (CAMHS) is adopted by multidisciplinary teams (Bose, and Et. Al,
2015). Department of Health guidance includes Developing High Quality Multi-disciplinary CAMHS
Teams. Mental Health Act 2007 introduced the approved mental health professional (AMHP) which
broadened the group of practitioners.
CONCLUSION

It has been concluded from the above discussion that multidisciplinary working is
helpful for meeting goals and objectives of the organisation. Positive environment is provided for
employees to work and they work collaboratively on a particular case. The organisation started by
collaboration of RuskinShire County Council Social services and Ruskin Trust has the motive of
providing patient care in Ruskin. As health conditions of individuals of this place is not very good,
these two organisations have taken initiative to enhance the health care service. Their aim is to do
good medical practise and work for providing quality care to patients. Good leadership in the
organisation is helping to meet the organisational goals and objectives. It is easier for this
organisation to provide quality care as individuals who are expertise in different fields are working
together.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bose, D. and Et. Al, 2015. Management of infected nonunion of the long bones by a
multidisciplinary team. The bone & joint journal, 97(6), pp.814-817.
Naugler, W.E. And Et. Al, 2015. Building the multidisciplinary team for management of patients
with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 13(5), pp.827-
835.
Saunders, C.B., 2015. Preventing secondary complications in trauma patients with implementation
of a multidisciplinary mobilization team. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 22(3), pp.170-175.
Shamshirsaz, A.A. And Et. AL, 2017. Multidisciplinary team learning in the management of the
morbidly adherent placenta: outcome improvements over time. American journal of
obstetrics and gynecology, 216(6), pp.612-e1.
Walsh, S.L., and ET. Al. , 2016. Multicentre evaluation of multidisciplinary team meeting
agreement on diagnosis in diffuse parenchymal lung disease: a case-cohort study. The
lancet Respiratory medicine, 4(7), pp.557-565.
Youell, B., 2018. The relevance of infant and young-child observation in multidisciplinary
assessments for the family courts. In Surviving Space (pp. 117-134). Routledge.