An investigation of interprofessional collaboration in stroke rehabilitation team conferences

The aim of this paper is to report a study examining the team processes occurring in team conferences in a stroke unit. Team conferences provide an opportunity for all members of the rehabilitation team to report patients' progress and establish patients' rehabilitation goals. The findings suggest that little discussion or consideration of alternative intervention plans are undertaken and that team conferences serve to disseminate decisions rather than establish patients' rehabilitation goals. Core members of the rehabilitation team have developed specific roles. The physiotherapist 'proposes' decisions which are 'seconded' by the occupational therapist. The doctor acts to sanction decisions and the nurses action them. Team conferences are effective for dissemination of decisions and for giving rise to a sense of team collaboration.