Teaming in the contemporary fertility clinic: creating a culture to optimize patient care

Fertil Steril. 2022 Jan;117(1):15-21. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.09.032. Epub 2021 Nov 6.

Abstract

When a diverse group of individuals is working together in the contemporary fertility clinic to provide time-sensitive and complex care for patients, a high degree of coordination and collaboration must take place. When performed dynamically, this process is referred to as teaming. Although the positive impact of teamwork in health care settings has been well established in the literature, the concept of teaming has limited foundation in the clinic. This review will provide an overview of how teaming can be used to improve patient care in today's fertility clinics. Approaches to integrating teaming into the clinic that will be discussed include framing, the creation of a psychologically safe environment for staff input, and facilitating collaborative constructs to support teaming. Best practices to implement teaming and how to address challenges to teaming in today's clinical environment will also be addressed.

Keywords: Group processes; leadership; patient care team; teaming.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care Facilities / organization & administration
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities / trends
  • Calibration / standards
  • Delivery of Health Care / organization & administration
  • Delivery of Health Care / standards
  • Delivery of Health Care / trends
  • Female
  • Fertility Clinics* / organization & administration
  • Fertility Clinics* / trends
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Organizational Culture*
  • Patient Care / standards
  • Patient Care / trends
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration*
  • Patient Care Team / standards
  • Patient Care Team / trends
  • Precision Medicine / methods
  • Precision Medicine / trends
  • Pregnancy