Evolution of team care and evaluation of effectiveness

This paper describes the evolution and modern development of rheumatologic team care, reviews and defines methods of evaluation and assessment of rheumatologic team care, summarizes recent research, and discusses possible future directions for the refinement of and research in rheumatologic team care.

The modern concept of multiprofessional team care for patients with rheumatic diseases has been evolving over more than 50 years. Research interest in rheumatologic team care is increasing, as is evidenced in international congresses and research networks addressing team care. Over the past decade, several studies of the effects and effectiveness of multiprofessional team care have been published. Few recent publication, however, have focused on team care because of a lack of optimal methods for studying team care and a lower priority for research in this area.

Team care in the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with rheumatologic diseases has a long and strong tradition in many countries. The role of team care is clinically relevant, and interest in the evidence-based evaluation and development of team care is growing. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health is a useful framework for examining the effects and effectiveness of team care. There is also a need for research and development with other outcome measures to analyze the different factors acting within team care. Furthermore, more specific studies of the effectiveness of team care are needed.