Physician Leadership and Advocacy for Team-Based Care

Abstract

Team-based care is a strong focus and narrative in medical and health education and within health care systems. Yet it is essential to consider that there are vast differences in power, education, compensation, and job security among team members in most health professional teams. How should clinicians of status play a role in advocating for lower status members of their health care teams, and why is that role important in improving equity within clinic walls and equity and better patient care for the communities they serve? The American Medical Association designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ available through the AMA Ed Hub TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Roles of Physician Leaders At its core, team-based care is providing health services to "individuals, families, and/or their communities by at least two health providers who work collaboratively with patients and their caregivers … to accomplish shared goals within and across settings to achieve coordinated, high-quality care." 1 This approach is an attribute of patient-centered care. 2 Team-based care, which can follow different paradigms and involve different stakeholders, has been shown to improve clinician workflow and the quality (via patient safety and satisfaction), effectiveness, and value of patient-centered care when integrated intentionally. 3