Interprofessional Teams

Interprofessional teams, composed of at least two professionals and the patient, are the norm in health care settings that provide high-quality care. Examples of interprofessional teams include Area Agencies on Aging, hospital discharge teams that include physical therapists (PTs), long-term care teams that include pharmacists, and geriatric teams that include PTs trained in counseling for behavior change. This chapter discusses characteristics of successful and unsuccessful teams, ways to cultivate a highly functioning team, and selected resources for team members and leaders. Characteristics of successful interprofessional teams include common goals, role clarity, interpersonal trust, measurable metrics, effective communication, honesty, self-discipline, creativity, humility, and curiosity