The treatment of substance use disorder (SUD) requires the collaboration of multiple departments and clinicians. Multiple staff members are responsible for ensuring clients access effective and appropriate treatment. According to Medicine, "Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that Collaborative Care increases access to mental health care and is more effective and cost efficient than the current standard of care for treating common mental illnesses" and substance abuse. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff members to share their expertise and cross-train to fill gaps in client support. Collaborating with coworkers is essential to high-quality treatment programs.
Collaboration Between Coworkers Creates a More Consistent Treatment Experience
Collaborating with coworkers ensures consistent client care and reduces strain on any one person or department. Sharing the workload and providing emotional or professional support throughout the workday helps staff remain focused and encourages teamwork. Driftwood Recovery understands that people work better when they have a shared goal and work together. Staff members may begin to feel physically or emotionally drained if they take on too much work during the week. Collaborating ensures team members recognize when to step in and lighten the load or provide helpful advice for a coworker.
Collaboration between staff members at Driftwood Recovery improves the treatment experience for clients and clinicians by doing the following:
- Ensuring everyone has access to the resources, skills, and expertise to accommodate client needs
- Providing staff with opportunities to learn new skills from coworkers
- Reducing miscommunication and human error by ensuring everyone works with the same information
Effective communication between staff members is essential to ensuring treatment programs provide the best support to clients. Studies have shown that "[t]he significance of communication in the clinical setting is its quality to improve patient outcomes . . . Communication errors are a major cause of adverse events in the clinical setting." Driftwood Recovery facilitates effective communication and collaboration through mandatory staff meetings and other policies.
Every Department Must Work Together
Staff members often feel more confident in their abilities if each department works together to create a cohesive client experience. Collaboration improves treatment outcomes for clients recovering from substance abuse and mental health disorders. According to Current Psychiatry Reports, "Collaborative care models (CCM) provide a pragmatic strategy to deliver integrated mental health and general medical care . . . CCMs are a team-based, multicomponent intervention . . . improving coordination of patient care through organizational leadership support, evidence-based provider decision-making, and clinical information systems as well as engaging patients in their care." Teamwork fosters a compassionate and respectful environment where clients and staff feel comfortable trusting and engaging with one another.
Driftwood Recovery Makes Collaborating With Coworkers Easy
Collaboration is easy when it is an expected part of the workplace experience. Driftwood Recovery encourages staff to communicate their needs throughout each shift to ensure no one feels unheard or isolated. The workplace is a positive community where people can rely on one another for support, insights, and expert advice. Collaboration is one of the critical values practiced by every staff member.
Driftwood Recovery helps clinicians collaborate by doing the following:
- Implementing an open-door policy with management to make sure every employee feels heard and valued
- Ensuring every staff member has the chance to provide feedback on facility policies and guidelines
- Encouraging an integrative approach to treatment between coworkers
Every department and individual has unique strengths and skills. Treatment programs work more smoothly when coworkers share those tools and resources.
Routine Check-Ins and Daily Facility Meetings
Daily staff meetings take place before the start of treatment to ensure everyone is on the same page. Staff members meet to share information, insights, and treatment goals to facilitate a smoother experience for clients and their loved ones. Daily check-ins make it easier for clinicians to engage with coworkers from other departments, relay information, and share ideas. Frequent communication ensures appropriate treatment for clients and allows clinicians to grow their skill set.
Collaborating With Coworkers Reduces Miscommunication and Improves the Effectiveness of Treatment
Increased communication is one of the most important aspects of collaboration between coworkers. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), "Effective teamwork has a positive effect on health care, and is associated with:
- Reduced length of stay.
- Higher rates of quality care.
- Better patient outcomes.
- A greater ability to meet family member needs.
- Improved patient experience with care scores.
- Lower rates of nurse turnover.
Clients and staff members are safer, and treatment outcomes are generally more positive when healthcare workers take the time to practice effective communication.
How Does Collaboration Benefit Clients and Clinicians?
Collaboration in a healthcare setting ensures that all services are complementary and people cooperate during client care. Clinicians and support staff work together to determine creative ways to overcome problems, establish care plans, and engage clients in recovery. Studies have shown that "[e]ffective teams are characterized by trust, respect, and collaboration." Driftwood Recovery has built collaboration into the policies and procedures of each program to ensure everyone feels supported and valued.
People in treatment have better experiences and outcomes when the care team collaborates closely to ensure programs are cohesive and address all their needs. Rehabilitation programs involve creating a bond of trust with clients and developing deep connections. Guiding clients through their recovery journey is more manageable if clinicians work together and maintain consistent treatment between departments. Driftwood Recovery supports collaboration between individual staff members and various departments. Every staff member checks in daily with co-workers and management to ensure they have the tools and resources to create a safe and supportive treatment environment. To learn more about our programs and the care team at Driftwood Recovery, call us today at (512) 759-8330.