ABSTRACT
Effective communication is characterized by a common purpose and intent and collaboration. Team members value familiarity over formality. Training for teamwork focuses on developing practical communication skills and a more cohesive environment among team members, and on creating an atmosphere in which all personnel feel comfortable speaking up when they suspect a problem. Providing safe healthcare is directly related to creating a team including healthcare providers and patients. Directly employing physicians within a hospital system is one of the main strategies used by healthcare providers to improve physician alignment with the interests of the entire health system. Many physicians join healthcare systems to focus on patient care, rather than deal with the administrative burden and the skyrocketing cost of private practice. The Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety program was developed in collaboration with the United States Department of Defense and Agency for Health Care Research and Quality to support effective communication and teamwork in healthcare.
