Interdisciplinary Team
An Interdisciplinary Team is a group of healthcare professionals from different specialties who work together to provide complete patient care. Unlike having separate doctors and nurses working independently, these teams combine their different skills to create better treatment plans. For example, a typical team might include doctors, nurses, physical therapists, social workers, and nutritionists all working together. This approach is also sometimes called a "multidisciplinary team," "integrated care team," or "collaborative care team." This team-based approach has become increasingly important in modern healthcare, especially in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Examples in Resumes
Coordinated patient care plans as part of an Interdisciplinary Team in cardiac unit
Led weekly Interdisciplinary Team meetings to review and update patient treatment plans
Collaborated with Multidisciplinary Team members to improve patient outcomes
Participated in Integrated Care Team rounds to ensure comprehensive patient care
Typical job title: "Healthcare Team Members"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Healthcare Team Members
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle conflict between different specialists on your interdisciplinary team?
Expected Answer: A senior team member should discuss conflict resolution strategies, maintaining professional communication, focusing on patient outcomes, and using structured team meetings to address disagreements constructively.
Q: Describe how you would improve communication between different departments in an interdisciplinary team setting.
Expected Answer: Should explain experience with implementing communication protocols, regular team meetings, shared documentation systems, and strategies for ensuring all team members stay informed about patient care updates.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you ensure effective handoffs between different members of the interdisciplinary team?
Expected Answer: Should describe standardized handoff procedures, documentation practices, and methods for ensuring important patient information is accurately communicated between team members.
Q: What strategies do you use to coordinate care plans among different specialists?
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with team meetings, shared care planning tools, and methods for incorporating input from different healthcare professionals into a cohesive treatment plan.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What do you understand about working in an interdisciplinary team?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding of different healthcare roles, importance of communication, and how various specialists work together for patient care.
Q: How do you contribute to team discussions about patient care?
Expected Answer: Should show understanding of their role in the team, ability to share relevant information, and respect for other team members' expertise.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of different healthcare roles
- Team communication skills
- Documentation in medical records
- Following care protocols
Mid (2-5 years)
- Care plan coordination
- Team meeting facilitation
- Cross-department collaboration
- Patient care optimization
Senior (5+ years)
- Team leadership
- Care protocol development
- Conflict resolution
- Quality improvement initiatives
Red Flags to Watch For
- Poor communication skills or unwillingness to collaborate
- Inability to work with different personalities and professional backgrounds
- Lack of respect for other healthcare disciplines
- Resistance to sharing information or participating in team meetings
