Interdisciplinary Care in the Community Teamwork within the context of the clinical and healthcare services is fast becoming a trend in the field of applied health science. This particular approach involves the partnership of specialists and trained individuals coming from varied and or multiple professions who either assume traditional or non-traditional roles in the healthcare set-up. Several health care models apply the principle behind this joint action and collaboration theory. Models of health care whose underlying design is teamwork vary in terms of the number of professions involved in the delivery of the health care program and their commitment and active participation. The Multidisciplinary Model involves several healthcare providers from several different professions in the carrying out of the healthcare services (Frattali, 1993).
Team members are aware of each others educational background and traditional role. They may also know each others scope of practice. However, there is a very limited chance of shared goal setting and collaboration on patient elated tasks though there are occasions of information sharing and joint planning of what approach to care will be used. Purposeful integration of the various inter-related services and care goals is not a feature of this approach.
Another teamwork-based type is the Transdisciplinary Model. This espouses the assumption that all healthcare providers and practitioners affiliated and connected with the healthcare team will be able to perform several professional roles at one time. Team members are viewed and expected to function as multiple service workers (Satin, 1994).
The Essay on The Biomedical Model of Health
The biomedical model defines health as being free of disease and infirmity, and does not take into account social or cultural issues. It is the dominant model used throughout the majority of western societies, and in these societies is generally seen as the only “legitimate” way to treat illness. One of the main factors of the biomedical model of health is that it sees the human body as a “machine ...
The underlying concept of this model is the idea that each team member represents a single, integrated body of knowledge that transcends individual professional knowledge bases. A model that seems to be a modification of these two models in terms of the foundations it advocates is called the Interdisciplinary Model. Like both of the previous models, it is composed of different professions that ground their work on group effort and teamwork to provide the best and quality healthcare.
As in the multidisciplinary model, interdisciplinary team members understand the educational backgrounds of one another, know each others areas of expertise, and are aware of the roles assumed by each profession (Satin, 1994).
But unlike the Multidisciplinary Model, it involves active integration and alliance of not only the healthcare practitioners involved but also the patient as well as the family in the decision-making regarding the health needs and care of the patient. Each person in the team is assigned a specific role and corresponding tasks according to each members level of competence. Though similar with the projected outcome of a Transdisciplinary Model, it does not expect each team member to function as a multifarious professional who can deliver various services at one single time. The different professions involved in the program may have overlapping roles and are oftentimes expected to be flexible in order to carry out the responsibilities that share common goals for the client — both the patient and his family. Among the teamwork based healthcare models, the Interdisciplinary Model is the most perceptive in terms of the needs of the families caring for an individual with a special health care need. This particular healthcare model assures the family that they have a hand, an active role in the decision making involve with the condition and contingency of the patient. The model recognizes the role that family plays in the mending and convalescence of the patient.
The Essay on The Family Unit And The Health Care System
The family unit and the health care system The family unit has been slowly disintegrating like The Soviet Union. Uncles and aunts left for distant places and came back seldom. Sometimes only grandma and grandpa were left in the old homestead. Grandchildren came to visit in the holidays, if they were in the same country. Now even Mom and dad are splitting with single parent families being 53% of ...
The good relationship between healthcare providers and the family of the sick individual that the model advocates impact greatly on the ability of family members to cope with the challenges that normally come with the dilemma. It is important for families that the professionals caring for their loved ones are capable and competent individuals who can provide them with sufficient information about the patients condition. They also expect them to act as guides in all the decision making while respecting their rights to make choices for their ill beloved family member. Reference List Bailey, D.B. (1984).
A triaxial model of the interdisciplinary team and group process. Exceptional Children, 51, 17-25.
Frattali, C. (1993).
Professional collaboration: A team approach to health care. Clinical Series No. 11:15-18. Satin, D.G. (1994).
A conceptual framework for working relationships among disciplines and the place of interdisciplinary education and practice: Clarifying muddy waters. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, No.
14:3-24. Schif, Jeff. (2002).
Minnesota Department of Health Homepage. Children with Special Health Needs in the Emergency Medical Services System. Minnesota Department of Health. Retrieved June 1, 2007 from the World Wide Web .
