Interdisciplinary teams in health care: integration of family caregivers

Interdisciplinary health care teams function within a range of contexts, have varying structures, and engage in different processes, which result in a range of outcomes for patients as well as for the team as a whole. Each of the components highlighted is influenced by the extent to which patients and their family caregivers are involved in the functioning of teams providing care. A model detailing each highlighted component of team functioning is presented. The integral roles of patients and their caregivers within teams are emphasized in terms of the impact on team functioning.