https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9896-0776
![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Interprofessional teamwork provides unique opportunities for improving patient care. This study used Social Identity Theory as a conceptual framework to characterize the relationships between the social identities of pediatric hospitalists and their perceptions of interprofessional teamwork. We used qualitative methods including free-listing and semi-structured interviews to examine these relationships. We identified five key themes: (a) Pediatric hospitalists’ identities fall along a spectrum ranging from profession-centered to team-centered; (b) Familiarity is conducive to formation of team identity; (c) Co-creation of a shared vision and practice of creating shared mental models strengthens sense of team; (d) Institutional culture acts as both a facilitator for and barrier to formation of team identity; (e) High-functioning teams often epitomize the concept of “flexible leadership.” We conclude that Social Identity Theory can be a useful theoretical lens for examining interprofessional teamwork in healthcare settings, including among pediatric hospitalists.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Daniel Herchline
Daniel Herchline, MD, MSEd, is an attending physician with the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
Rebecca Tenney-Soeiro
Rebecca Tenney-Soeiro, MD, MSEd, is an attending physician with the Division of General Pediatrics and Program Director of the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Jay J. Mehta
Jay Mehta, MD, MS, is an attending physician with the Division of Rheumatology and Associate Program Director of the Pediatrics Residency Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.