Pseudo-teams in Healthcare: The Perils of Impersonating a Cohesive Unit

Teamwork is a critical aspect of healthcare and is widely recognised as a cornerstone of effective patient care. However, not all healthcare teams are created equal, and some teams that appear to work well together on the surface are better described as pseudo-teams rather than true teams. This issue is frequently disregarded and overlooked despite its importance, yet it significantly impacts patient care and staff morale. We wish to describe the concept of pseudo teams in healthcare, their perils, and ways to create true teams characterised by shared goals, open communication, and a commitment to each other’s success.


BACKGROUND
In healthcare, a "true team" refers to a cohort of professionals who collaborate cooperatively, intending to deliver exceptional patient care. This notion has received increasing recognition recently due to the growing awareness of the significance of interdisciplinary teamwork in healthcare. 1 Healthcare organisations often utilise teams to deliver high-quality patient care and accomplish shared objectives. Teams in the healthcare sector come in various forms, including interdisciplinary teams, crossfunctional teams, and project teams. Each has a distinct purpose and comprises individuals with diverse skill sets and responsibilities.
Interdisciplinary teams bring together healthcare professionals from different fields to collaborate in providing comprehensive care to patients. Such teams could include a patient care team comprising a physician, nurse, and social worker or a discharge planning team comprising a physician, nurse, discharge planner, and therapist. 2 On the other hand, cross-functional teams consist of professionals from different departments within a healthcare organisation working together on a specific project or challenge, such as enhancing patient satisfaction, reducing readmissions, or streamlining processes. 3 Project teams, assembled for a defined period, are created for a specific project or task and often involve members from multiple departments and external stakeholders. 4

What are Pseudo-teams in healthcare?
A pseudo-team is a group of individuals who work interdependently but lack the characteristics that define a true team. These characteristics include a shared sense of purpose, open communication, and a commitment to each other's success. In healthcare, pseudo-teams can result in fragmented care, negatively impact the work environment, and lead to burnout and turnover among staff. 5 The Perils of Pseudo-teams in healthcare Fragmented Care: One of the main problems with pseudo-teams in healthcare is that they can lead to fragmented care. This occurs when team members work in silos and do not effectively coordinate their efforts. This can result in patients receiving inconsistent True teamwork is a crucial driver of high-quality, patient-centred care in the healthcare organisations. Effective teamwork can improve patient outcomes, increase efficiency, and enhance job satisfaction among healthcare workers. However, creating true teams that can work together seamlessly and achieve shared goals can be challenging. 8,9 Given the challenges of creating true teams in healthcare, it is crucial for healthcare organisations to adopt strategies to promote teamwork and collaboration among their staff. Some evidence-based strategies include:

The advantages of a true-team to an organisation:
• Streamlined efficiency and output through seamless coordination and cooperation. • Improved decision-making. • A boost in job satisfaction and employee morale results in a reduction in turnover and absenteeism. • Heightened adaptability and creativity facilitated by frequent communication and harmonious goals. • Heightened patient satisfaction is attributed to consistent, excellent service delivery.

The perks of a true-team to team itself:
• A clear definition of roles and responsibilities leads to heightened accountability and performance.

The benefits of a dedicated team to a team member:
• An elevated level of job satisfaction through a positive work environment and shared achievements. • Professional advancement through opportunities for skill acquisition and mentorship. • A heightened sense of purpose and motivation due to shared goals and a well-defined understanding of roles and responsibilities. • An improvement in work-life balance through a well-coordinated and delegated task structure. • Strengthened job security through a stable and efficient team organisation.

The advantages of a true team to patients:
• A heightened quality of care through improved coordination and communication among healthcare providers. • Faster and more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans resulting from the collective expertise and problem-solving abilities. • Improved patient satisfaction through consistent, high-quality care. • Elevated safety through regular evaluations and improvements in processes and procedures.
• Enhanced continuity of care through accurate documentation and communication among healthcare providers.

CONCLUSION
Pseudo-teams in healthcare can have serious consequences for staff and patients. Increasing awareness about pseudo-team culture in healthcare and emphasising its negative consequences is essential. Organisations must strive to establish clear goals and expectations for the team to avoid pseudo-teams' dangers and create true teams in healthcare. This includes ensuring that team members understand their purpose and how they will work together to achieve it. Additionally, healthcare organisations can foster open communication and collaboration by providing opportunities for team members to discuss their work and collaborate on projects. The benefits of a true team are that improved collaboration and problem-solving lead to increased job satisfaction and better decisionmaking. When individuals in a true team establish trust and support for one another, they can work together seamlessly, generating exceptional outcomes for the team and the organisation. True teams also cultivate a sense of community and shared purpose, elevating the work environment and boosting employee engagement and retention.

Grant Support & Financial Disclosures:
None.