How to achieve quality assurance, shared ethics and efficient teambuilding? Lessons learned from interprofessional collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

Objective: Against the background of the current pandemic crisis, this case report presents the experiences made from interprofessional teamwork with group members from different medical qualification levels. Our objectives were to identify areas of shared knowledge regarding efficient collaboration; to improve effective teamwork based on mutual respect; to develop innovative teaching methods tailored to the needs of COVID-19 interprofessional response teams. Methods: Field notes from numerous team discussions and improvised internal training sessions were compiled into a checklist. Each author edited and revised the checklist and a consensus has been reached after an in-person discussion. Feedback from an academic expert in emergency services has been incorporated into the final version of the checklist.Results: Three main topics were identified: the need for quality-assured professional training, the clarification of role expectations including assigned responsibilities, opportunities to contribute and participate in the team building process, and the development of area-related ethical competence in the sense of shared moral public health literacy. Hence, we developed the following ad - hoc teaching methods: use of online teaching videos, practical exercises on intubation models and the collective development of an annotated, detailed checklist for all relevant work processes of the mobile corona unit based on everyday debriefings. Summary: The need for interprofessional team building in the context of the current health crisis provides a beneficial learning environment for all participants. We propose to conceptually refine this approach into a cross-professional, innovative method of teaching.