Interdisciplinary teamwork: consideration of the challenges

Most services currently provided by the NHS involve a considerable amount of interdisciplinary team working. The effectiveness of team structures and team functioning is variable, ranging from effective to fragmented service coordination. Despite major developments in establishing productive multidisciplinary team working over the past decade, several key challenges still need to be overcome. This article outlines a definition of and the rationale for successful interdisciplinary teamwork. It considers key organizational, professional and interpersonal challenges that need to be addressed if the present level of teamwork is to be enhanced.