Interdisciplinary team approach to general practice in Canada

doi:10.1136/bmj.a350

BMJ 2008;336:1391-1392 (21 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.a350

Letters

State of general practice

Interdisciplinary team approach to general practice in Canada

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It is not easy to change from working autonomously to workingas an interdisciplinary team. GPs’ way of practising nowrequires new ways of thinking, communicating, and respondingto patients’ needs. Howie et al are concerned about lossof tradition and a "new culture" of care.¹ They fear that practicechange could be harmful and want to safeguard their doctor-patientrelationships.

But a team approach does not require GPs to relinquish responsibilityfor patients’ ongoing care. I work as a chronic diseasemanagement coordinator in Ontario, Canada, where GPs are nowpart of interdisciplinary care teams. I’ve found thatefficient teams can work collaboratively to help patients setand meet realistic health goals. Interdisciplinary teams canprovide intensive individual and group education and skillsdevelopment to improve patients’ self management—somethingthere is little time for in general practice. Other time consumingactivities like discussing emotional and social factors affectingpatients’ . . . [Full text of this article]