How can you prioritize patient needs in a multidisciplinary team?

Establish clear roles and responsibilities

One of the first steps to prioritize patient needs in a multidisciplinary team is to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each team member. This can help avoid confusion, duplication, or omission of tasks, as well as foster mutual respect and trust among the team. You can use tools such as a team charter, a RACI matrix, or a care plan to define the scope, objectives, and expectations of each team member. As a patient advocate, your role is to represent the patient's voice, preferences, and rights, and to facilitate communication and collaboration among the team.

Understand the patient's goals and values

Another key step to prioritize patient needs in a multidisciplinary team is to understand the patient's goals and values. These are the factors that guide the patient's decisions and preferences regarding their care and treatment. As a patient advocate, you can help elicit and communicate the patient's goals and values to the rest of the team, and ensure that they are aligned with the team's recommendations and interventions. You can use tools such as a goal-setting worksheet, a values clarification exercise, or a shared decision-making model to help the patient articulate and prioritize their goals and values.

Communicate effectively and respectfully

Effective and respectful communication is essential to prioritize patient needs in a multidisciplinary team. Communication can help bridge the gaps between different perspectives, disciplines, and cultures, and foster a shared understanding of the patient's needs and expectations. As a patient advocate, you can help improve communication in the team by using strategies such as active listening, asking open-ended questions, providing feedback, summarizing key points, and confirming understanding. You can also use tools such as a communication plan, a SBAR model, or a huddle to structure and facilitate communication among the team.

Resolve conflicts and dilemmas

Sometimes, prioritizing patient needs in a multidisciplinary team can lead to conflicts and dilemmas, especially when there are disagreements, misunderstandings, or ethical issues involved. Conflicts and dilemmas can affect the quality and safety of care, as well as the morale and satisfaction of the team. As a patient advocate, you can help resolve conflicts and dilemmas in the team by using strategies such as acknowledging emotions, identifying interests, exploring options, and finding common ground. You can also use tools such as a conflict resolution model, a mediation process, or an ethical framework to guide and support the resolution process.

Evaluate and adjust

Finally, prioritizing patient needs in a multidisciplinary team requires constant evaluation and adjustment. Evaluation can help measure the effectiveness and efficiency of the team's performance, as well as the impact and outcomes of the care and treatment for the patient. Adjustment can help address the gaps and challenges identified by the evaluation, as well as the changes and transitions that may occur in the patient's condition, preferences, or goals. As a patient advocate, you can help evaluate and adjust the team's work by using strategies such as collecting feedback, reviewing data, and implementing changes. You can also use tools such as a team assessment tool, a quality improvement cycle, or a care transition plan to monitor and improve the team's work.

Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?