Collaboration orchestration in complex rehabilitation services-a qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration is crucial in rehabilitation but challenging to implement effectively.
• Existing research highlights supporting factors but overlooks practical execution within complex settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore interprofessional collaboration and communication in a complex rehabilitation environment.
• To understand healthcare professionals' experiences and strategies for successful collaboration across organizational boundaries.

Main Methods:

• Conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 14 healthcare practitioners.
• Utilized thematic analysis of interview transcripts.
• Applied relational expertise theory for interpretation.

Main Results:

• Professionals facilitate collaboration through flexible communication tailored to patient needs and situational demands.
• Cultivating mutual trust and understanding is key to successful interpersonal relations in collaborative work.
• Two main themes emerged: flexible communication and acknowledging interpersonal relations.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional practice requires acknowledging practitioners' need for flexibility and developing relational expertise alongside professional skills.
• Dynamic rehabilitation settings benefit from supportive structures and the cultivation of collaborative skills.
• Policy and practice should prioritize flexibility and relational expertise in interprofessional collaboration.