The eight indicators

"When you're leading a team or are a member of a team and you want to make changes, you're ready to make changes, where do you even start? What I'm really excited about is that our work has identified that if you start with just these eight things, you can make a difference. It can improve how your team's functioning," says Klaasen. "It gives you a road map to go forward and it's very manageable."

Indicators of high performing interprofessional Collaborative Care teams:

  1. The team has identified a standardized way to measure team performance. Team performance indicators are monitored regularly and guide team decision making.
  2. Care is organized based on the needs of patients (as opposed to the needs of health care providers).
  3. Team members have dedicated time for team development activities.
  4. There is shared space in the environment for teams to work/socialize together.
  5. The team has a defined team role statement and team goals.
  6. Interprofessional care planning (discharge rounds, care conferences, care rounds).
  7. Team composition and roles are defined by the needs of patients, scope of service, and the goal of optimizing scope of practice of health providers.
  8. Standard operating procedures/clear role statements for all team members exist and minimize unnecessary duplication of service.