Elevating Each Other: How Healthcare Professionals Collaborate Across Fields

Healthcare is a complex profession that encompasses a variety of interdependent careers that rely on effective collaboration between multiple skilled workers. Individually, these careers are valuable, but when they come together, their immense impact can change communities for the better.

One crucial aspect of healthcare is its interprofessional team approach. This approach involves healthcare professionals from different disciplines, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other allied health professionals, working together to provide comprehensive care to patients.

Interprofessional collaboration promotes patient-centered care by ensuring that all aspects of the patient's health are addressed fully. It also leads to better patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, and improved patient satisfaction.

Another essential aspect of healthcare collaboration is effective communication.  Communication among collaborators ensures that healthcare professionals can exchange accurate information in a timely fashion, resulting in a more efficient work environment.

Collaboration between healthcare professionals goes far beyond just doctors and nurses. From physical therapists to pharmacists, each career involves varying responsibilities, working environments, and team members. 

Wondering if healthcare is right for you? Learn more about the specific roles within healthcare and how they collaborate with other healthcare professionals:

• Dental Assistants: Dental assistants prepare patients for procedures, support dentists during procedures, take X-rays, sterilize instruments, and manage patient records. They work closely with medical administrators and other members of the dentistry team.
• Health Information Manager: A health information professional is responsible for managing, analyzing, and protecting patient health information in a healthcare facility. They work with electronic health records (EHRs), paper records, and other health information systems to ensure that all patient information is complete, accurate, and up-to-date.
• Healthcare Administration: Healthcare administrators oversee the daily operations of healthcare facilities, managing budgets, coordinating staff, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Professionals in healthcare administration play a crucial role in the overall success of a healthcare organization, working with the administrative side of the healthcare team.
• Medical Billing and Coding: They are responsible for managing the billing and reimbursement process for medical services, from submitting insurance claims to following up on any issues that arise. Medical billers must have strong attention to detail and analytical skills, working closely with healthcare administrators and other medical personnel to keep operations running smoothly. 
• Nurses: Those in nursing will provide hands-on care to patients and assist with medical procedures. Having such a hands-on role in patient care requires nurses to possess compassion and critical thinking skills. As a nurse, you’ll work closely with physicians, pharmacists, medical assistants, and other healthcare professionals to provide specialized patient care.
• Physical Therapist Assistants: Physical therapist assistants work with patients to improve mobility, strength, and range of motion through exercise.  In this role, you’ll work with physical therapists, occupational therapists, surgeons and physicians to ensure that patients are successfully progressing with manual therapy, and other techniques.  They work most closely with other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive rehabilitation plans.
• Social Workers: Social workers provide support and resources to patients and their families. They often work closely with pharmacists, physicians, and medical billers. In the wake of the mental health crisis, social workers strive to provide emotional support and resources to patients who are struggling. 
• Surgical Technician: They assist in surgical procedures by preparing the space, sterilizing equipment, and providing support to surgeons and other medical personnel during surgery. As a surgical tech, you’ll need strong attention to detail and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Surgical technicians work closely with physical therapists, physicians and pharmacists to support patients throughout the entire surgery process.

While the responsibilities of these careers vary, everyone is connected by their shared passion for providing high-quality care to those in need, and the ability to collaborate across the entire healthcare field. Learn how you can make a difference in the healthcare field and join a team of equally ambitious individuals with the help of Herzing University.