Hierarchical Differences:
Historically, interactions between healthcare teams have been dominated
by doctors,50 and staff often classify their ‘team’ as
the other staff members of the same profession (e.g. medical team,
nursing team etc.). This contrasts to high reliability organisations
such as military aviation and nuclear power who work more
collaboratively, and also have low accident and failure
rates.51 Seven studies in our
review1,32,34-37,40 reported that huddles improved
communication between various professional groups, primarily between
doctors and nurses. Having a structured interdisciplinary gathering
bridges the communication barrier and allows the multidisciplinary team
to work more cohesively and collaborate collectively on a daily basis.
However, one study reported lower levels of job satisfaction with
resident doctors taking part in the huddle.35 This was
due to a feeling of decreased autonomy and that it added to their
often-overstretched workload.52 This review highlights
the importance that all team members take part in the huddle, regardless
of seniority, to ensure it is an ongoing process and to benefit from the
collaboration and collegiality it can facilitate. This collaboration and
collegiality is a key component of improving teamwork among healthcare
providers.