Palliative teams’ collaborative practice with employees from hospital departments and municipal care

Abstract

The purpose is to investigate how palliative teams collaborate interprofessionally with professionals/patients from different occupations in hospital departments and municipal health care services. Background: Previous research has argued that interprofessional teams support the continuity of care, research-based decision-making, advanced care planning, and high-quality care for palliative patients. Method: Qualitative methodology with four focus group interviews was utilized in four hospitals in central Norway, and there were 26 informants: nine doctors, eight nurses, three physiotherapists, two social workers, two priests and two occupational therapists. Results: The informants described factors that were perceived as either facilitators or barriers in interprofessional collaboration with hospitals and municipalities. Together with employees from hospitals and municipalities, the informants could develop a more comprehensive view of the patient’s holistic needs. Discussion: The informants highlighted that patients were followed up by the team. They described their mission to contribute as raising the competence level in other professions and care services. Different professionals with palliative skills could facilitate both health professionals and patients. The physiotherapy profession was especially useful because it emphasized the rehabilitation factor. This study found that patients were referred to the team late in the disease process. Conclusion: Palliative teams want to collaborate with other health institutions, so the palliative patients receive comprehensive, holistic and coordinated care. There is different availability and varieties of palliative care in municipalities. These differences can be a challenge in interprofessional coordinated and holistic health care services.