Huddle-coaching: a dynamic intervention for trainees and staff to support team-based care

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Management
• Team-Based Care

Background:

• Outpatient clinics are transitioning to team-based medical home models.
• Existing training programs require innovative methods to incorporate trainees into these new systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an interprofessional huddle-coaching program for trainees in primary care.
• To support trainee integration into Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACTs) and enhance team-based care delivery.

Main Methods:

• Implemented a huddle-coaching program involving pre-clinic team briefings (huddles) for nurse practitioner students and internal medicine residents.
• Focused on structuring huddles, team-building activities, and collaborative practice skills.
• Conducted a multifaceted evaluation including participant feedback and team process measures.

Main Results:

• Participants reported positive experiences with training and team-building activities.
• Trainees perceived improvements in efficiency and quality of patient care.
• Evaluation data indicated progress in team processes and relationships over time.

Conclusions:

• The huddle-coaching program effectively supported trainee development and clinic's team-based care mission.
• This model offers a viable strategy for incorporating trainees into evolving healthcare delivery systems.
• The program demonstrated success in fostering collaboration and improving patient care within an outpatient setting.