Team-Based Care: What You Should Know Before Getting Started

Growing up, we’re taught that teamwork is a valuable life skill and crucial for success—yet, so many healthcare environments nowadays are still operating within a hierarchical framework that dates all the way back to the 19th century.

The tides appear to be turning, however, as many healthcare organizations are starting to embrace a more team-based approach to care in hopes of finally solving some of healthcare’s biggest challenges, including staff burnout, exorbitant costs, and unsatisfactory patient outcomes.

What is Team-Based Care?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines Team-Based Care as “the intentional and strategic organization of care to create a collaborative multidisciplinary team to meet the needs of patients.” With a traditional approach to care, the physician is typically seen as the sole decision-maker whereas a team-based approach emphasizes that each member of the team—from leadership to administrative staff—is equally valued, making collaboration more seamless.

The Care Team Roster

With a team-based approach, the care team typically consists of a wide range of healthcare professionals from different disciplines who bring their own unique—yet complementary—insights. Physicians, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, social workers, pharmacists, and physician assistants are all examples of those commonly included on the care team roster. Patients and their families/caregivers are also regarded as valuable team members and are encouraged to actively participate in the decision-making process.

5 Major Benefits of Team-Based Care

Team-Based Care comes with numerous benefits, as detailed below.

1. Reduced Staff Burnout

Because work gets distributed more evenly across the care team and is tailored more closely to each respective team member’s role, the workflow is more balanced and employees typically report higher work satisfaction and reduced burnout.

2. Improved Care Coordination

The emphasis placed on interdependence results in better communication and coordination across the care team.

3. Wider Access to Care

When processes run more efficiently, care teams gain the capacity to see more patients and spend more time getting to know them and their individual needs.

4. Financial Benefits

Team-Based Care has the potential to offer significant financial benefits for practices and the healthcare system at large. The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends Team-Based Care as an effective means for treating hypertension (a major driver of healthcare costs in the US, estimated at $131 billion to $198 billion annually) as the costs of proactive management are far lower than that of reactive treatment for long-term complications.

5. Better Patient Outcomes

When executed properly, all of the above contribute to a higher quality of care and, as a result, better patient outcomes.

6 Helpful Tips for Team-Based Care Success

Operating within a team-based framework can take some adjustment, so it’s important to follow a few general guidelines to set your team up for success.

1. Create the Right Work Environment

First off, it’s critical to foster a work environment that values mutual respect so that every member of the team member feels comfortable voicing their concerns. As such, clear communication and collecting regular feedback should be a top priority as to gauge employee satisfaction and improve team performance.

2. Clearly Define Each Role

A Team-Based Care approach aims to have each team member functioning at the top of their expertise and, accordingly, roles and expectations should be very clearly defined.

3. Map out the Workflow

Once each role has been clearly defined, it’s time to create a team-based workflow. Tasks should be spread across the team to allow for seamless, informed decision-making and staff should have the autonomy to work independently of the physician.

4. Hold Regular Team Check-Ins

Team-Based Care greatly values proactive planning and continuous feedback, so it’s important to have regular team check-ins where everyone can voice their concerns. Important topics to bring up during team check-ins include staffing issues, pre-charting issues, or patient reassignments. This information should be regularly collected and analyzed so as to improve the workflow.

5. Engage Patients

Patients who are actively engaged typically adhere to the treatment plan more closely. Consider developing a self-management plan that involves regular check-ins and, in some cases, self-monitoring of vitals using at-home devices. The patient should also play a major role in the creation of the care plan.

6. Make Sure You Have the Right Tools and Technology

The #1 most valuable asset in any team-oriented work setting is, of course, each individual team member who works tirelessly to deliver the high-quality care their patients deserve. Make the switch to a Team-Based Care model as seamless as possible by leveraging a top-of-the-line communication and documentation tool—like Clinii Connect-AI—that transforms how care teams operate with AI-powered call guides, task automation, and sentiment analysis—all while remaining HIPAA-compliant and maximizing opportunities for reimbursement. Your team will thank you.

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