Impact of leadership development workshops in facilitating team-based practice transformation

ABSTRACT

The development of interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) environments requires a systematic, multi-pronged approach. Despite recognition of the need for IPCP, interventions that support its development are not well described in the literature. Leadership training is necessary for individuals and teams to build IPCP-supportive environments. This study describes the impact of a longitudinal series of leadership development workshops to strengthen IPCP and facilitate practice transformation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 healthcare professionals who described ways in which the workshops influenced the team-based practice transformation. Thematic analysis indicated that the workshops were instrumental in providing structure and opportunity for participants to learn skills, expand perspectives, and change behavior to improve team outcomes. Findings highlight the importance of supporting individual and team development over time and suggest that intentional, targeted coaching focused on relationship building and meeting the evolving needs of the team is critical to the implementation and sustainment of practice change.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional collaborative practice
• leadership development
• team-based care
• practice transformation
• interviews

Acknowledgment

Dr. Blakeney wishes to acknowledge the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute [5K12HL137940-02] for partial support of her efforts during manuscript preparation.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by Health Resources and Services Administration [UD7HP26909]; PI: Zierler, B.

Notes on contributors

Mayumi A. Willgerodt

Mayumi A. Willgerodt is Associate Professor and Vice-Chair, Education in Family and Child Nursing. Her area of research/scholarship is on developing integrated interprofessional curricula, team training, assessment and evaluation of IPE on collaborative practice and school health.

Erin Abu-Rish Blakeney

Erin Abu-Rish Blakeney is a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing. Dr. Blakeney’s program of research focuses on interprofessional education and studying implementation of team-based approaches to practice transformation.

Nicole Summerside

Nicole Summerside is Manager of Program Operations of the UW Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Research and Practice. Her area of interest is on collaborative practice, team science, team training, and change management within health systems.

Mia T. Vogel

Mia T. Vogel is a doctoral student in Public Health Sciences at The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research is focused on team science, dissemination and implementation, systems science, health services, and preventing chronic disease.

Brenda Zierler

Brenda Zierler is Professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics at the University of Washington School of Nursing. Her area of research is focused on team science, interprofessional collaborative practice, and health systems.