Interdisciplinary Team
An Interdisciplinary Team is a group of healthcare professionals from different specialties who work together to provide complete care for elderly patients. Instead of working separately, these professionals (like doctors, nurses, social workers, physical therapists, and nutritionists) meet regularly to discuss and coordinate patient care. This approach is different from traditional healthcare where each specialist works independently. You might also hear this called a "multidisciplinary team," "care team," or "integrated care team." This team-based approach is especially important in geriatric care because older adults often have multiple health conditions that need different types of expertise.
Examples in Resumes
Led Interdisciplinary Team meetings to develop comprehensive care plans for 30+ residents
Participated in weekly Interdisciplinary Team rounds to coordinate patient treatments
Collaborated with Interdisciplinary Team members to improve patient outcomes
Served as primary nurse representative on the facility's Integrated Care Team
Coordinated with Multidisciplinary Team to implement new fall prevention protocols
Typical job title: "Interdisciplinary Team Members"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Interdisciplinary Team Members
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle conflict between different disciplines in the team?
Expected Answer: A senior team member should discuss experience with conflict resolution, facilitating productive discussions, focusing on patient outcomes, and maintaining professional relationships while ensuring all team members' perspectives are heard.
Q: Describe how you would improve communication in an interdisciplinary team.
Expected Answer: Should mention implementing structured communication protocols, regular team meetings, using shared documentation systems, and creating clear channels for urgent updates between different departments.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure effective care plan implementation across all disciplines?
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with coordinating different aspects of care, tracking progress, following up with team members, and adjusting plans based on patient response.
Q: What strategies do you use to maintain good documentation across the team?
Expected Answer: Should explain methods for keeping clear, accessible records, ensuring all team members document their contributions, and maintaining communication about patient progress.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What do you think are the key benefits of working in an interdisciplinary team?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate understanding of how different perspectives contribute to better patient care, the importance of collaboration, and learning from other disciplines.
Q: How would you contribute to team meetings as a new team member?
Expected Answer: Should show willingness to learn, ability to share observations about patients, and understanding of their role in the larger team.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of different healthcare roles
- Documentation in medical records
- Participation in team meetings
- Following care plans
Mid (2-5 years)
- Care plan development
- Cross-disciplinary communication
- Meeting coordination
- Patient case presentation
Senior (5+ years)
- Team leadership
- Care protocol development
- Conflict resolution
- Quality improvement implementation
Red Flags to Watch For
- Inability to work collaboratively with others
- Poor communication skills
- Resistance to input from other disciplines
- Lack of experience in team-based care settings
- Unable to explain role boundaries and responsibilities
