Fast Company Article for April, 1999 "Total Teamwork" By Paul Roberts April 1999 Issue, Page 149 Prepared by Vince Crary

A work approach we all can learn by.

"Total Teamwork" details how the Mayo Clinic physicians, nurses, and residents work together in a team approach to determine the best way to help each patient. Through the use of the team approach, the Mayo Clinic has achieved excellence in the world of medicine.

At the Mayo Clinic, doctors are paid a set salary allowing them to be team players versus doctors who compete for patients and referral fees.

This article follows Dr. Lynn Hartmann, an oncologist on the 12th floor of the Rochester Mayo Clinic. The story outlines Dr. Hartmann working with a couple of patients and how the team approach is used to arrive at the best course of action for the patients.

The article also tells how the Mayo Clinic got started, the influence the three original Doctors Mayo approach to teamwork had in the beginning of the clinic, and how it is still working today.

The article also points out how the Mayo Clinic works hard to make the "Mayo Experience" as comfortable for the patient as possible. The Mayo Clinic, through its team approach, strives to make patient flow through the clinic as efficient as possible. The waiting rooms are comfortable, and the staff is very helpful.

I can attest to this as I was in a five-year study and have spent time in the 12th floor waiting room. I found the article very interesting due to my experience at the clinic. I did not know the ins and outs of how the clinic teams worked, but I did know there was a lot of interaction going on.

In extension, a team approach is often used. Research projects, program planning, teaching done at programs: all follow a team approach.

Like all teams, some people you complement and can work very well with, while you may conflict with others. I feel great things happen, research or program- wise, when you have the right team.

My wife works at Hospice, and the interdisciplinary team approach is basic to Hospice patient care. As we talked about this article, we both agreed a team can be a very effective and a very positive approach to patient care. I feel one problem with a team is that it is only as good as it's weakest link. My wife disagrees: a team can hide many weaknesses as other team members compensate for a weak link.

-- Anonymous, May 06, 1999