Preface

One of the most significant advances in patient care is the recognition that high-quality healthcare, as defined by optimal outcomes achieved safely, in a timely and efficient manner, is best delivered by teams working together. The concept of teamwork in healthcare, as emphasized in this text, is critical at all levels – from the bedside of the patient up to all tiers of administrative support. Critical to our understanding of the role of teams is the recognition that there is an inherent advantage of groups working together in increasingly complex settings. Consequently, it must be emphasized that teams must be able to function within a structure that is guided by multi-disciplinary approaches, excellent communication, and a clear focus on high-quality and successful patient outcomes. Important aspects of teams and teamwork in healthcare include the assurance that teams are properly defined with regards to membership, roles, responsibilities, and group objectives that can be measured. Accomplishing such objectives is not always easy – especially since there must be "buy-in" toward the overall structure and function at all levels. Champions, typically physicians and their administrative support, are crucial to success.

As several chapters in this text emphasize, it is important that teams, once defined, have clear objectives and goals. With individual roles, responsibilities, and accountability defined, an entire group (and interfacing groups) can work together toward achieving common goals by taking full advantage of the strengths of the group working both as individuals and jointly while mitigating potential weakness and deficiencies inherent to more individualistic approaches. Such successes should be objectively measured, shared, and celebrated, focusing on improved outcomes (e.g., survival, length of stay, costs, patient/family satisfaction, etc.).

Many of the concepts discussed in this volume are constantly evolving. Because of this, each chapter serves as a basic foundation to encourage the reader to explore the references and actively engage in discovering (and contributing to) the latest advances in the healthcare "team science." On behalf of the entire editorial team, we would like to thank all the authors for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding contributions to this project. We also appreciate the interest of the readers in providing a forum for discussion of these dynamic, rapidly evolving, and complex topics.

**II**

**Chapter 7 89**

Teamwork Implementation: Case Specifics **101**

**Chapter 8 103**

**Chapter 9 123**

**Chapter 10 149**

**Chapter 11 169**

Learning from Errors

*by Nikolai Ramadanov*

*by Vasfiye Bayram Değer*

*and Iolanda Grappasonni*

**Section 3**

*by Gabor Xantus and Laszlo Zavori*

Teamwork in a Surgical Department

Outbreak Management and COVID-19 Pandemic

Unmet Supportive Care Needs of General Cancer *by Ezaddin Kamal Mahmod and Saadia Ahmed Khuder*

Epidemiology of Obesity in Children and Adolescents

*by Giulio Nittari, Stefania Scuri, Getu Gamo Sagaro, Fabio Petrelli* 

**Michael S. Firstenberg, MD FACC FAIM** William Novick Global Cardiac Alliance, United States of America

**Stanislaw P. Stawicki, MD MBA FACS FAIM** St. Luke's University Health Network, United States of America

**1**

Section 1

Foundations in Teamwork

Section 1
