ABSTRACT
There is growing recognition that strong interprofessional teamwork is key to ensuring high-quality, safe, patient-centred care. Breakdowns in team communication account for the majority of medical errors in health care. In response to public outcry against the number of lives lost due to medical errors, the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the United States collaboratively developed Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS, 2006). This is an evidence-based set of tools for improving communication, leadership, and teamwork skills for health care teams, that is now used in health care systems across the globe. Additionally, national and international organizations also address the need for interprofessional education and collaborative care. Both TeamSTEPPS and interprofessional initiatives have made significant contributions towards improving communication and collaborative teamwork in health and social care. Building upon foundational listening skills addressed in previous chapters, this chapter addresses the development of clear and concise communication, assertiveness, conflict resolution, and giving and receiving information and feedback across racial, cultural, and linguistic differences for optimal team functioning. The chapter also addresses strategies for handling thoughts, emotions, and actions when mistakes are made within interprofessional teams in the delivery of care.
