Question

Identify potential professional disciplines and fields of expertise that may be offered by an interdisciplinary team in health care.

Answer 1

Ans) An interdisciplinary approach involves team members from different disciplines working collaboratively, with a common purpose, to set goals, make decisions and share resources and responsibilities.

- A team of clinicians from different disciplines, together with the patient, undertakes assessment, diagnosis, intervention, goal-setting and the creation of a care plan. The patient, their family and carers are involved in any discussions about their condition, prognosis and care plan.

- In contrast, a multidisciplinary approach involves team members working independently to create discipline-specific care plans that are implemented simultaneously, but without explicit regard to their interaction.

- Healthcare is a team effort. Each healthcare provider is like a member of the team with a special role. Some team members are doctors or technicians who help diagnose disease. Others are experts who treat disease or care for patients' physical and emotional needs.

- Healthcare team member include:

Doctors
Physician Assistants
Nurses
Pharmacists
Dentists
Technologists and technicians
Therapists and rehabilitation specialists
Emotional, social and spiritual support providers
Administrative and support staff
Community health workers and patient navigators

• Healthcare Team for a Visit with a Primary Care Provider (PCP)
- When patients visit their primary care provider (PCP), the visit involves many more people than just the doctor. Here's an example of healthcare professionals involved in a simple PCP visit:

- Members of the administrative staff schedule the appointment, find the medical record, make a reminder call, greet the patient and verify insurance information.
- A nurse or medical assistant record the patient's weight and vital signs, escort the patient to an exam room and record the reason for the visit.
- The PCP may be a doctor, physician's assistant or nurse practitioner who examines and talks with the patient to develop a diagnosis and plan of care.
- If a lab or radiology test is ordered, a technician performs the test. Administrative staff may help ship out the sample (blood, skin, saliva), a lab will perform the analysis and write up the test results. The technician, nurse, or doctor will discuss the results with the patient. If treatment, such as medication is prescribed, a pharmacist fills the prescription.
- Medical billing experts then bill the patient's insurance for the office visit and either the test or the medication.