Collaborative practice teams: from multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary

The current competitive health care market includes consumers and payers who are demanding that providers demonstrate and validate the effectiveness of their interventions in promoting patient outcomes. Collaboration in the form of interdisciplinary teams is an effective mechanism for enhancing patient outcomes. The CPT acts as the vehicle for driving the outcomes management process. Seven skills used by CPT members enhance collaboration: clinical competence, credibility, consistency, assertiveness, structured meetings, valuing of time, and marketing of the CPT. Change is inevitable, and strategies for change will be useful in achieving the outcomes of carefully planned objectives and goals.