The Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) Approach to Hospice

In college, I was a member of my school’s cross country and track teams. Looking back, I can’t imagine what my college experience would have been like without my teammates. I was blessed to have people that I could rely on, and to have this constant support from people who had similar goals and values, who were always pushing me to be the best I could be.

Now, you may be wondering, what does that little anecdote have to do with hospice? Many people don’t know this, but hospice care is all about teamwork. In fact, each patient who comes on to hospice services is assigned to an interdisciplinary team (IDT) to direct their care.

This team is just what it sounds like: people from different disciplines (or specialties) who come together to pool their gifts, talents, and ideas in the hopes of providing the best-quality care possible for each and every patient. In addition to assisting patients with the management of their physical symptoms, this care also includes supporting patients socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

These IDT members collaborate regularly (most members meeting at least one time a week) to individualize patients’ care plans to reflect their goals, needs, likes/dislikes, etc.

Some of these IDT members include:

1. Nurses – coordinate patients’ care; they work to get patients’ pain managed and symptoms controlled; they also communicate regularly with a patient’s primary care physician
2. Social Workers – act as advocates for patients; they assist with emotional, psychosocial, and financials needs of patients and their families, often providing patients with community resources
3. Chaplains – are resources and facilitators for spiritual guidance, prayer, and rituals according to a patient’s preference; they may also collaborate with a patient’s church, minister, etc.
4. Volunteer Coordinators and Volunteers – assess a patient’s needs for extra support and help; coordinate volunteers, which provide companionship, caregiver relief, and support to patients and families
5. Home Health Aides – provide personal cares to patients, including bathing, dressing, etc., while focusing on patient dignity and comfort; also assist with light housekeeping and work to foster a safe and comfortable environment for patients
6. Bereavement Coordinators – provide patient’s caregivers and loved ones with grief support as needed; also facilitate support groups and arrange memorial services for patients and families
7. Medical Director – is available for discussion of patients’ treatment plans and consultation with the hospice team
8. Pharmacist – works closely with hospice nurses to monitor patient medication for drug interactions and effectiveness
9. Dietician services– available for consults/to answer questions regarding patient nutrition
10. Music Therapist – engages patients with music of their choice in order to provide comfort and moments of joy to patients and their loves ones
11. Other – hospice care may also include massage therapy, pet therapy,occupational therapy, etc., based on patients’ needs and in line with supporting the goal of patients’ comfort

While not every patient requires help from each of these disciplines, it is important to recognize that each hospice patient has an entire team behind him or her, ready to support this patient and his or her loved ones. Like most teams, IDT team members have similar goals and values, and function as sources of support to each other, while pushing each other to be the best social workers/nurses/aides/etc. that they can be.

Each member of the IDT brings their own unique insights and experiences, but they all have one thing in common: they want what is best for their patients, and will do whatever they can to make sure that patients receive high-quality, compassionate comfort care at end of life.