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From The Editor
By Miki Fairly  As this issue's feature article, "Total Patient Care: Just a Dream?" points out,
a strong multidisciplinary rehab team is highly instrumental in
achieving the goal of optimal patient outcomes.
When team care is possible, how can members cooperate
successfully together for maximum results?
The University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension describes the
characteristics of good team building, which include: good people
skills and a commitment to the team approach on the part of the
team leader; a relaxed climate for communication and mutual trust
among team members; well-defined team roles and objectives; and the
capacity to create new ideas.
A proactive--rather than a reactive--approach works best, the
Cooperative Extension points out:
- Team members jointly determine the way they are going to work
together as a team and what they want to happen. "When individuals
and the entire team choose to operate this way and are willing to
set petty differences aside, unbelievable results become possible,"
the Extension notes.
- Having a well-defined purpose or vision of what the team will
accomplish is a powerful force for the team leader and
members.
- Team members have a positive attitude toward change and are
willing to accept and allow change to occur as needed in order to
accomplish desired results.
- Team members verbally and publicly support each other,
recognizing that negative comments about others tear the team
down.
The Cooperative Extension points out, "Team leaders and members
that make a conscious, sustained effort to make these&[and
other] characteristics a part of their mindset will find that both
creativity and accomplishment of desired results will be much
higher than it would be otherwise."
And for rehab teams, the one who benefits most from a successful
team is the most important team member--the patient. 
Table Of Contents - December 2003
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