Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Hospitals via Patient- and Process-Oriented Units: A Longitudinal Study

The complexity of healthcare is increasing, mainly due to the prevalence of multimorbidity in an ageing population. Complex care for patients with multimorbidity requires a multidisciplinary approach. Traditional physician-centered hospital structures do not facilitate the necessary multidisciplinary collaboration. European hospitals are implementing process-based hospital designs with patient- and process-oriented units to stimulate multidisciplinary collaboration. Patient-oriented units are formed based on shared patient groups and focus on care trajectories, while process-oriented units are formed based on having similar processes and focus on efficiency.

This study has two aims. First, to study the effect of introduction of these units on multidisciplinary collaboration and perceived impact (efficiency, innovation, and effectiveness). Second, to study whether there are differences between patient- and process-oriented units.

A survey-based longitudinal evaluation study was conducted in 2020 and 2022 among physicians in a Dutch hospital to measure multidisciplinary collaboration (relational coordination) and perceived impact (efficiency, innovation, and effectiveness). In addition, open questions were used to enrich the data.

Quantitative and qualitative data together suggest that physicians in patient-oriented units notice benefits from the redesign to multidisciplinary units, they perceive higher impact over time. Physicians in process-oriented units achieve a better relationship with the physicians in their unit over time, but they do not perceive impact as high as physicians in patient-oriented units.

A process-based design with patient- and process-oriented units is supportive of multidisciplinary collaboration and perceived impact, especially for physicians in patient-oriented units. Physicians in patient-oriented units are positive about the introduction of these units as they feel it contributes to better multidisciplinary patient care. As the results for physicians in process-oriented units may be less directly visible in terms of quality of care, they are less likely to see positive effects, even though their relationships are improving.