Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I

An interdisciplinary team includes multiple healthcare professionals working together to provide holistic and quality patient care using their combined skills, knowledge, and expertise. This collaborative approach ensures comprehensive care addressing all aspects of a patient's health needs through coordinated efforts across different specialties and roles.

Physicians diagnose illnesses and direct medical or surgical treatment. They have authority to admit patients to healthcare institutions, prescribe medications, interpret laboratory and diagnostic test results, and perform procedures and surgery. Their clinical decisions guide the overall treatment plan and coordinate care across the interdisciplinary team.

Registered nurses assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care while supervising licensed practical nurses. RNs teach patients and families about health and independence. Licensed practical nurses provide nursing care and medications under RN and physician supervision, performing fewer duties and activities than RNs, particularly with critically ill patients and complex procedures.

Nurse practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses with specialized degrees who diagnose and treat common health problems, create treatment plans, and perform physical assessments. In some states, they can prescribe medications and therapies. They must earn board certification and work within their state's regulatory framework for prescriptive authority.

Nursing assistants must complete a training and competency evaluation program for nursing assistants (NATCEP) before practicing. They perform allocated nursing activities under the direct supervision of a qualified licensed nurse, ensuring safe and appropriate patient care delivery within their scope of practice.

Advanced practice registered nurses provide consultations in specialized roles such as geriatrics, critical care, diabetes, rehabilitation, and wound care. They must earn board certification in their specialty. Some states authorize APRNs to prescribe medications, expanding their clinical autonomy and ability to manage patient conditions independently.

Physician assistants complete specialized coursework and pass licensure examinations to assist physicians. Their tasks, determined by the supervising physician, include completing physical examinations, suturing lacerations, and examining, diagnosing, and treating patients under physician supervision, extending the physician's capacity to deliver patient care.