Optimizing Huddle Engagement Through Leadership and Problem Solving Within Primary Care: Results from a...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Team Dynamics
• Clinical Practice Improvement

Background:

• Leaders are vital for clinical practice changes, but strategies to engage them in team problem-solving are understudied.
• Limited evidence exists on effectively involving leaders in team communication and problem-solving initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a leadership intervention during daily huddles on team-based care optimization.
• To evaluate the effect of facilitated leadership on clinical team functioning and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cluster-randomized trial involving 29 primary care clinics.
• Intervention group received leadership training, coaching calls, and site visits; control group received routine practice.
• Team development, function, patient satisfaction, and quality outcomes were measured pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The intervention did not significantly improve team development or psychological safety, but enhanced team credibility.
• No differences in patient satisfaction were observed; quality outcomes showed mixed results.
• Within the intervention group, higher adherence correlated with improved team coordination, credibility, learning, and knowledge creation.

Conclusions:

• Leadership training and facilitation alone did not enhance overall team functioning in this primary care setting.
• Further research may be needed to identify additional components to improve team functioning through leadership interventions.