Interprofessional Teamwork Innovation Model (ITIM) to promote communication and patient-centred, coordinated care

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Quality Improvement
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Hospital settings face persistent barriers like professional silos hindering effective teamwork and patient-centered care.
• There is a critical need to redesign healthcare delivery models to be team-based and patient-centered.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, implement, and evaluate the Interprofessional Teamwork Innovation Model (ITIM) for improving team-based rounding.
• To assess the impact of ITIM on patient outcomes, including readmissions and emergency department visits.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement study utilized the FOCUS-PDSA framework with Lean principles at an academic medical center.
• An intervention group received care from ITIM hospitalist teams, matched with a control group receiving standard care.
• Primary outcomes measured were 30-day all-cause same-hospital readmissions and 30-day emergency department visits, analyzed using difference-in-difference.

Main Results:

• ITIM teams reported enhanced communication and time savings among members.
• Patients discharged from ITIM teams showed a significant reduction in 30-day same-hospital readmissions (OR 0.56).
• No significant impact was observed on 30-day same-hospital emergency department visits or average total direct costs.

Conclusions:

• The ITIM approach fosters a collaborative environment for integrated patient care involving diverse healthcare professionals.
• ITIM effectively reduces hospital readmissions, demonstrating the value of interprofessional teamwork in patient outcomes.
• The model supports team-based, patient-centered care delivery within the hospital setting.