Primary health care teams re-engineered

• Published in: Journal of interprofessional care Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 189 - 198
• Main Authors: Elwyn, Glyn Jones, Rapport, Frances, Kinnersley, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Informa UK Ltd 1998; Taylor & Francis; Carfax; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Alternative; Biological and medical sciences; Evaluation; Interdisciplinary team work; leadership; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; primary care development; Primary care teams; Primary health care; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; re-engineering; task teams; teamwork; United Kingdom; Europe; Evaluation; Efficiency; Health staff; Primary health care; Cooperation; Professional practice; Team work; Review; Interdisciplinary field; Public health
• ISSN: 1356-1820; 1469-9567
• DOI: 10.3109/13561829809014105

The existence of a multidisciplinary 'team' in general practice-based primary care is now widely questioned. The requirements for effective teamworking (appropriate tasks, leadership, functional maintenance and performance feedback) are seldom met. As more care devolves to primary care and as the practice-based organisation becomes more complex, the tension between expressed patient preferences (personal continuity of care) and the push for 'teamwork' is clearly observable in general practice. Does the concept of re-engineering (where services are organised on the basis of a streamlined process) offer a way forward? These issues are explored in this article and possible practical developments outlined.