Teams and Team Functioning

Best Practices in the Evaluation of PHC Interdisciplinary Teams

This project will develop best practice guidelines for effective functioning of interdisciplinary teams, tools for evaluating the effectiveness of the teams and educational tools for providers to support team activities. http://www.chsrf.ca/research_themes/pdf/Inventory_of_Projects.pdf Data not available until March 2006. Contact: Loralee Gillis, Association of Ontario Health Centres (loralee@aohc.org)

Enhancing Primary Health Care: Learning and Applying Facilitation within a Systems Model

There is a growing body of knowledge supporting the use of facilitation as a vehicle for change. Facilitation can be applied to a broad range of PHC elements and systems, including inter-professional team building, community engagement, organizational change, and audit and evaluation activities. This initiative is developing a manual for use by facilitators and managers, primarily at the district/regional level. A draft manual has been developed, and includes an extensive list of tools currently in use across Canada. Contact: Heather White, Project Manager (709) 729-0390, heatherwhite@gov.nl.ca PHCTF Project – Newfoundland

Guide to Collaborative Team Practice

This is a resource for those that have been approved to form a family health team in Ontario to guide them in creating localized plans for service. The guide has tips for teams, including how to form teams and characteristics of well functioning teams. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/transformation/fht/fht_guides.html

IMPAQ

US consulting firm (Mark Samuel) that emphasizes:

• Cross-functional and team accountability- a system of leadership in which managers are aligned, projects are coordinated and tracked and results are consistently measured. Likewise, project teams must have a high level of accountability. These are the critical groups through which results are achieved. Improving their accountability increases their performance, effectiveness and deliverables. Develop Agreements for Excellence Team System to enable accountability.
• Personal accountability – highlights the "Personal Accountability Model" where people become "accountable" for making the best of the circumstances they face rather than responding as a "victim." This involves both a mindset change and a behavioral change
• Employee orientation – assists new employees in understanding accountability as it applies to their new role in the organization. They will develop action plans for developing their relationship with customers, co-workers and employers. Manitoba has used IMAQ extensively.

http://www.impaqcorp.com/homepage.html

Oriel (formerly Joiner and Associates)

Oriel is dedicated to helping organizations improve business performance. This is an U.S. consulting firm. However, its website has tips for teams, information on quality and the use of Six Sigma. One can also purchase the Memory Jogger (which lists QI tools, teams and how to run effective meetings), the Team Handbook and others publications for teams. http://www.orielinc.com/main.cfm

Pilot Project in PHC Team Development

Saskatchewan Health through a partnership with Med-Emerg International and the Centre for Strategic Management (CSM) developed a pilot project on interdisciplinary primary health care teams. The team focus developed in Saskatchewan was based on systems thinking. CSM uses a five step approach "ABCDE" model to lead organizations through change. It involves developing the organization's desired state and implementing a road map for change (essentially a strategic planning process). http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/ps_phs_teamdev.pdf

Team Effectiveness Evaluation Tool

The Primary Health Services Branch of Saskatchewan Health undertook a study as part of the evaluation of primary health service sites in Saskatchewan. The attached evaluation tool was used to measure team effectiveness.

Team Effectiveness Tool