Fysioterapeuten (Jan 2009)
The significance of team collaboration within rehabilitation
Abstract
The aim of this article is to illuminate the significance of team collaboration within rehabilitation and relate interdisciplinary research and theory to this subject. The team concept, in itself, is ill defined in the literature. Existing research primarily investigate the internal communication of the team, whereas external factors such as organisational issues and management are hardly researched. The article briefly addresses the philosophical background of dialogue and appreciation, and these thoughts are explained and related to real team rehabilitation issues from rehabilitation team practice. The often underestimated importance of developing a team spirit where meeting each other with a warm heartfelt and respectful atmosphere is underlined as a key factor for meaningful relationships to team colleges as well as patients. The article explains how discussion often is a disguised tool for power preservation, whereas dialogue is a more open and power free communication tool for team reflection and examination. Unclear definitions regarding team purpose is contributing to power- and interprofessional conflicts, which in itself weakens team collaboration. The article concludes that external supervision and interprofessional education within teams seems to be a suitable evidence base to build and develop proper team collaboration upon. That is, if development is given adequate attention and support by the organisation as well as managers, on all levels.
