Interdisciplinary Roles and Interface

Abstract

The interdisciplinary model provides a structure for each inpatient discipline to apply its unique expertise to develop and deliver a comprehensive care plan. The primary goal is to stabilize the patient’s acute psychiatric symptomatology and facilitate a transition to a more permanent setting. A secondary goal is to minimize the risk of re-admission. The following shared values are inherent to this approach: patient-centered care, alliance with the social network, reduction of adverse environmental factors, and safety. Central to the mission is the delivery of safe clinical care, especially medication management, to promote maximum improvement and minimize risk. The evidence shows that working in teams improves not only patient outcomes but also the experience of patients, families, and healthcare workers (Thota et al., Am J Prev Med 42(5):525–38, 2012; Zwarenstein et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3):CD000072, 2009). This chapter reviews the expertise of the various disciplines and how they collaborate. Models of care delivery and competencies for work in a collaborative team environment are delineated.