THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM

1. THE INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM A Vital Component for our Hospice Program

2. Purpose of the IDT • Most efficient way to provide patient care. • Can provide care to a limited geographic area. • Various medical disciplines can contribute. • Provides a network for discussion. • Meets on a regular basis. • Each discipline is equally important.

3. Members of the IDT • Team Physician • Several Team Nurses (RNs) • A Team Manager (usually an RN) • Several Certified Nursing Assistants • A Chaplain • A Social Worker

4. Team Assistants • A Team Secretary • Volunteers • Team Representative

5. Team Physician • Visit patients • Order appropriate medication and equipment • Sign orders • Review medication • Teach IDT members • Teach patient and family • Certify Hospice appropriateness

6. Registered Nurses • Visit assigned patients • Review medication • Contact team physician or patient’s attending for orders • Provide the IDT and patient’s attending with progress reports • Make sure patient is supplied with medication and equipment • Direct special needs to the patient • Wound care

7. Certified Nursing Assistants • Provide personal care such as bathing or shaving or getting patient out of bed • Provide respite and emotional support • Contribute information to the IDT • Help with transport of supplies to the patient

8. Team Manager • Helps lead the team meeting • Assigns patients to the Nurses • Assists with a schedule for patient visits • Contributes to IDT discussions • Education • Occasionally makes visits to the patients or to the attending physicians

9. Social Worker • Discuss social issues with the patient and family: food, finances, family interactions, emotional problems, suggest sources for additional care • Discuss DNR • Discuss funeral arrangements • Contribute information to the IDT

10. Chaplain • Does not present or represent a particular religion • Provides spiritual support • Provides advice regarding emotional and spiritual conflicts • Helps provide IDT support during a team meeting

11. Additional Staff • Secretarial help for the team manager and team members; keeps tract of charts and records and equipment; phones; supplies • Volunteers • Team representative visits the referring physician and facilities