ABSTRACT
Healthcare is delivered through distinct service providers and departments. These disciplines and departments have their own lexicon that contributes to the maintenance of boundaries that can inhibit information and knowledgesharing. These groups form barriers though competition, acquired specialty expertise, time pressures, and structural configuration that result in what might be referred to as organizational silos. Despite efforts to enhance teamwork, these silos still hamper effective care. Context, word use and meaning can vary and contribute to misinterpretation and misunderstandings. For example, knowledge could mean “data” to an information technician, “evidence” to a physician, “database” to a librarian and “intellectual capital” to an organizational development expert.
