Empowering the team: A social work model of interprofessional collaboration in hospitals

Written By INQYR

Craig, S. L., Eaton, A., Belitsky, M., Kates, L., Dimitropolous, G., & Tobin, J. (2020). Empowering the team: A social work model of interprofessional collaboration in hospitals. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 19, 100327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2020.100327

Highlights

Background

Healthcare is increasingly delivered through interprofessional collaborations (IPC).

The social work perspective of IPC is important to understand, as the profession has contributed to other interprofessional models, yet less is known about social workers’ actions within interprofessional teams

Study Description

  • Using a grounded theory approach, this study examined the functioning of interprofessional teams through seven focus groups with social workers (n = 46) at six urban hospitals

  • This study identified the particular contributions of social work to collaborative healthcare teams and proposes a model of social work in interprofessional teams

Key Findings

  • Empowering Collaboration emerged as a key contribution of social work to IPC

  • Three integrated themes specified the strategies social workers used when empowering the team:

    (1) Actively Communicating

    • Building relationships

    • Holding information

    • Filling gaps

    (2) Proactively Educating

    • Training the team

    • Advocating for patients

    • Teaching about systems

    (3) Managing Risk

    • Troubleshooting discharge

    • Avoiding liability

 
INQYR
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