Key Success Factors
and Pitfalls

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Communication

The establishment of interdisciplinary collaboration in primary healthcare cannot be accomplished for family physicians if there is not sufficient investment in dedicated time to intra-group and inter-disciplinary communication. Communication includes spending time in establishing effective group dynamics as well as ensuring the practice environment and newer technologies used in the family practice or primary care group facilitate effective and easy communication between providers.

Communication is more effective and better accepted in interdisciplinary practice models where family physicians are financially supported to allow time for good communication in team conferences or other meetings.

Communication for team-based care is not just about providers talking to one another, but also to patients and the community. In order to have effective interdisciplinary collaboration among team members, it is important to communicate with patients about changes that are taking place in the family practice or primary care group and how these changes will affect them, if at all. In addition, communicating changes to the local community will assist in the acceptance of changes that may well be for the better but misunderstood of not communicated effectively. Community involvement in such team-building exercises as visioning, mission setting and goal creation will greatly facilitate communication with patients and residents in the community. (See Communications Plan for the Chinook Primary Care Network as referenced in Other Resources.)