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

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Design
• Medical Collaboration

Background:

• Increasing healthcare complexity and multimorbidity necessitate enhanced multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Traditional hospital structures hinder effective teamwork, prompting a shift towards innovative designs.
• European hospitals are adopting process-based designs with patient- and process-oriented units to foster collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of patient- and process-oriented units on multidisciplinary collaboration.
• To assess the effect of these units on perceived efficiency, innovation, and effectiveness.
• To identify differences in outcomes between patient- and process-oriented units.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal survey-based evaluation study conducted in 2020 and 2022.
• Physicians in a Dutch hospital were surveyed on multidisciplinary collaboration (relational coordination) and perceived impact.
• Qualitative data from open-ended questions were used to enrich quantitative findings.

Main Results:

• Physicians in patient-oriented units reported increased multidisciplinary collaboration and higher perceived impact over time.
• Physicians in process-oriented units showed improved relationships but did not perceive the same level of impact.
• Patient-oriented units demonstrated greater benefits in perceived efficiency, innovation, and effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Process-based hospital design, particularly with patient-oriented units, supports multidisciplinary collaboration and perceived impact.
• Physicians in patient-oriented units find the redesign beneficial for multidisciplinary patient care.
• While process-oriented units improve physician relationships, their positive impact on care quality may be less immediately apparent.