Teams are always important to optimizing any type of work environment. Teams bring variability to the environment, and in healthcare they are even more important. Earlier we talked about variability in care delivery. We talked about how not one situation is the same and this is why it is important to have a team approach to care. As this is so, it is also important to Step 4 of the Agile Implementation (AI) process.

There are several benefits of working in a team.  For example, working in a team fosters creativity and learning.  Everyone has different approaches to things, and we can always learn new things from other people. Another benefit of working in a team is the blending of complementary skills. Teams work well together because team members rely on each other to bring individual talents to the table, thus strengthening the team. A team approach builds trust and establishes strong relationships between coworkers. Without trust, there are barriers to advancement. A team approach builds conflict resolution skills, as well.

            A Minimally Viable Service is defined as the basic service that is provided. In this step, an AI agent works with leadership to convert evidence-based solutions into a basic solution. This takes a lot of work and planning, but it is a very essential component to the overall AI process. It is important to note that once these basic steps are developed, they have to be incorporated to maintain the evidence-based solutions. This requires a team that will be able to collaborate and pull out the essential aspects of the solution

 Let us consider another example using the Healthy Aging Brain Center (HABC) mentioned in Step 1. For Alzheimer’s care, the team manifested a list of seven specifications. This included education, periodic needs assessment, medication management, and care coordination. Each member of this diverse team was given a responsibility in developing the minimally viable solution.

To learn more about the AI process, go and reserve your free copy of the Agile Implementation book today at http://www.hii.iu.edu/ . This book describes a proven, evidence-based methodology to leverage real-world practices to achieve sustainable change within the healthcare industry. Also, keep an eye on our blogs to learn about Step 5 of the AI process: Performing Implementation Sprints.