An interdisciplinary team communication framework and its application to healthcare 'e-teams' systems design
Date
2009-09-15
Authors
Kuziemsky, Craig E.
Borycki, Elizabeth M
Purkis, Mary Ellen
Black, Fraser
Boyle, Michael
Cloutier, Denise
Fox, Lee Ann
MacKenzie, Patricia
Syme, Ann
Tschanz, Coby
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: There are few studies that examine the processes that interdisciplinary teams
engage in and how we can design health information systems (HIS) to support those team
processes. This was an exploratory study with two purposes: (1) To develop a framework for
interdisciplinary team communication based on structures, processes and outcomes that were
identified as having occurred during weekly team meetings. (2) To use the framework to guide 'eteams'
HIS design to support interdisciplinary team meeting communication.
Methods: An ethnographic approach was used to collect data on two interdisciplinary teams.
Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data according to structures, processes and
outcomes.
Results: We present details for team meta-concepts of structures, processes and outcomes and
the concepts and sub concepts within each meta-concept. We also provide an exploratory
framework for interdisciplinary team communication and describe how the framework can guide
HIS design to support 'e-teams'.
Conclusion: The structures, processes and outcomes that describe interdisciplinary teams are
complex and often occur in a non-linear fashion. Electronic data support, process facilitation and
team video conferencing are three HIS tools that can enhance team function.
Description
BioMed Central
Keywords
Citation
Kuziemsky et al. An interdisciplinary team communication framework and its application to healthcare 'e-teams' systems design. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2009 9:43.