Teamwork in healthcare organisations

Abstract

The concept of teamwork represents the basis of a new paradigm and a shift from the traditional inter-professional boundaries. A questionnaire was developed to analyse potential benefits and/or limitations of teamwork, and to determine the importance and existence of this notion with the Maltese public healthcare organisation. Of the 200 questionnaires distributed through email amongst employees within the Ministry of Health, 92 responses were received, giving a response rate of 46.5%. Whereas 40.2% stated that teamwork does exist locally, a slight majority remarked that teamwork doesn’t exist. Approximately 98% affirmed that it would be beneficial for a healthcare organisation to embrace the concept of teamwork. The majority believe that barriers are a reality that inhibit effective teamwork and deem that intraprofessional learning would aid health professionals to work and provide care together. The results indicate that teamwork is an important issue within the contemporary healthcare organisation.