Working Together as a Team

Team-Based Learning

Team-based learning is a collaborative and teaching strategy. It emphasizes student preparation and the ability to work as a team to apply knowledge to practical situations. The term and concept were first popularized by Larry K. Michaelsen, Professor Emeritus of Management at both the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Missouri, as an educational strategy.

The five steps are:

1. Individual pre-work
Students independently review preparatory materials such as reading material, slideshows, powerpoint presentations or audio/video lectures.

2. Individual Readiness Assurance Test
Students individually complete a test based on the pre-work materials.

3. Team Readiness Assurance Test
Students are divided into teams, and the teams take the same test as they took previously, only this time they can work as a team to determine and submit answers.

4. Clarification Session
Students discuss questions and answers with the instructor, diving deeper into issues of ambiguity.

5. Application Exercises
Students test the knowledge they have gained through practical application problems, working as a team.

The team-based learning methodology is now frequently used both in training sessions in academic settings or the workplace. You may find this video helpful as you figure out how to apply team-based learning principles to your clinic training sessions.

Collaboration

During a clinical visit, a patient may interact with several different employees, including Physicians, Nurses, Technicians, and Administrative Assistants. Critical information must be accurately communicated, and collaboration between team members is essential. If staff members don’t work together, everything from billing problems to patient safety is at risk. This is why you as a preceptor will want to prioritize team collaboration as you introduce a new student to your clinic.

Collaboration in healthcare requires healthcare professionals to assume complementary roles and cooperatively work together. In healthcare, the sharing of responsibility for problem-solving purposes and decision making is essential as they formulate and execute plans for patient care. You can increase the level of collaboration within your clinic by taking the following measures:

• Treat every team member with respect, reflecting the conviction that all are valuable and all are needed.
• Streamlining communication through the establishment of protocols that facilitate easy transference of information.
• Clearly delineating roles and responsibilities such that every team member knows what is expected of him or her.
• Privately address staff members that are not pulling their weight or who regularly overstep, thereby disrupting the workflow or negatively impacting team spirit.

Most importantly, make sure students understand their positions in the clinic. The introduction of a new staff member can rock a previously stable ship. By taking proactive measures, you can reap the benefits of an additional medical professional while avoiding the problems that can accompany a new staff member.

Collaboration In Action

The introduction of a student to your clinic is the perfect time to reinforce a collaborative work environment. Use this opportunity to;

• Evaluate the workflow in the clinic.
• Make changes that will improve clinic efficiency and morale.
• Articulate the need for teamwork and cooperation.
• Assign specific roles to specific people, detailing expectations.
• Designate time to evaluate the integration of the new student with both the student and key employees to ensure the transition goes smoothly.
• Address problems before they get out of hand. Using every opportunity to showcase the need to work together, and use individual strengths for the betterment of the clinic as a whole.
• Recognize those who contribute to a positive work environment.
• Reinforce the conviction that teamwork is essential for success.

Lead by example. When you model positivity and add an attitude of teamwork, the clinic will follow.

Your clinic is a team, and as such, requires a great deal of teamwork to function at maximum efficiency. Even one weak link can result in a breakdown in the chain of reactions triggered by the arrival of each patient. To improve clinic performance and morale, you will want to prioritize training that emphasizes your team’s ability to work as a team.