Tips From the Iceberg: Effecting Culture Change in Health Care Teams

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Medical Education

Background:

• Fables serve as traditional teaching tools, simplifying complex lessons through narrative.
• John Kotter's extensive research on change management has been adapted into a fable format.
• Relational tension between anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists can impede effective teamwork.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the application of Kotter's eight-step model to address interprofessional conflict.
• To foster a collaborative culture between anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists.
• To demonstrate a practical strategy for improving teamwork in academic medical centers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Kotter's eight-step model as a framework for change.
• Applied the model to resolve relational tension in two academic medical centers.
• Focused on enhancing collaboration between anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists.

Main Results:

• Successful resolution of relational tension between the two professional groups.
• Establishment of a resultant culture of collaboration.
• Demonstrated effectiveness of the fable-based approach in a real-world setting.

Conclusions:

• Kotter's eight-step model, presented in a fable, is an effective tool for conflict resolution.
• The application of this model can lead to improved interprofessional collaboration in healthcare.
• This strategy offers a valuable approach for academic medical centers seeking to enhance teamwork.