Relational coordination and team‐based care: Change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health system

Abstract Introduction Most change interventions to address quality of care and lower costs focus on technical aspects of the work through process improvements, which have not consistently delivered the anticipated impact for healthcare organizations. This study aims to (1) understand how relational...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lauren Hajjar, Olawale Olaleye, Julius Yang, Susan McGirr, Erin E. Sullivan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Learning Health Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10455
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849424157206380544
author Lauren Hajjar
Olawale Olaleye
Julius Yang
Susan McGirr
Erin E. Sullivan
author_facet Lauren Hajjar
Olawale Olaleye
Julius Yang
Susan McGirr
Erin E. Sullivan
author_sort Lauren Hajjar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Most change interventions to address quality of care and lower costs focus on technical aspects of the work through process improvements, which have not consistently delivered the anticipated impact for healthcare organizations. This study aims to (1) understand how relational interventions including shared huddles and cross‐role shadowing opportunities, impact team dynamics and functioning and (2) describe the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing relational interventions at an Academic Medical Center in a large metropolitan city in the United States. Methods This paper is a mixed method, pre–post‐intervention study in which data were collected using a validated survey, observations, interviews, and one focus group. Relational coordination survey data were analyzed within and across eight interdependent workgroups on three inpatient medical units at baseline and 16 months post‐intervention. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed for themes. Results While there were some improvements in overall relational coordination between baseline and post‐intervention measures, the findings were not statistically significant. Qualitative data reveal four themes, highlighting the strengths and barriers to the intervention: (1) incomplete fidelity to the relational coordination framework, (2) leadership, (3) meeting structure and participation, and (4) stakeholder engagement. Conclusions Within the healthcare context, this study contributes to our learning about implementing and measuring relational interventions. We offer insights for future research and practice on change initiative overload and operational constraints, socializing relational interventions, and balancing core and non‐core roles in the intervention strategy.
format Article
id doaj-art-0c7e6762e2e84822a168f9a29ca7f5f3
institution Kabale University
issn 2379-6146
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Learning Health Systems
spelling doaj-art-0c7e6762e2e84822a168f9a29ca7f5f32025-08-20T03:30:19ZengWileyLearning Health Systems2379-61462025-07-0193n/an/a10.1002/lrh2.10455Relational coordination and team‐based care: Change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health systemLauren Hajjar0Olawale Olaleye1Julius Yang2Susan McGirr3Erin E. Sullivan4Department of Public Service and Healthcare Administration Suffolk University Boston Massachusetts USAInstitute on Healthcare Systems Brandeis University Waltham Massachusetts USAInternal Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston Massachusetts USAInternal Medicine Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Boston Massachusetts USADepartment of Public Service and Healthcare Administration Suffolk University Boston Massachusetts USAAbstract Introduction Most change interventions to address quality of care and lower costs focus on technical aspects of the work through process improvements, which have not consistently delivered the anticipated impact for healthcare organizations. This study aims to (1) understand how relational interventions including shared huddles and cross‐role shadowing opportunities, impact team dynamics and functioning and (2) describe the challenges and opportunities associated with implementing relational interventions at an Academic Medical Center in a large metropolitan city in the United States. Methods This paper is a mixed method, pre–post‐intervention study in which data were collected using a validated survey, observations, interviews, and one focus group. Relational coordination survey data were analyzed within and across eight interdependent workgroups on three inpatient medical units at baseline and 16 months post‐intervention. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed for themes. Results While there were some improvements in overall relational coordination between baseline and post‐intervention measures, the findings were not statistically significant. Qualitative data reveal four themes, highlighting the strengths and barriers to the intervention: (1) incomplete fidelity to the relational coordination framework, (2) leadership, (3) meeting structure and participation, and (4) stakeholder engagement. Conclusions Within the healthcare context, this study contributes to our learning about implementing and measuring relational interventions. We offer insights for future research and practice on change initiative overload and operational constraints, socializing relational interventions, and balancing core and non‐core roles in the intervention strategy.https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10455healthcare deliveryhospital careorganizational changerelational coordination
spellingShingle Lauren Hajjar
Olawale Olaleye
Julius Yang
Susan McGirr
Erin E. Sullivan
Relational coordination and team‐based care: Change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health system
Learning Health Systems
healthcare delivery
hospital care
organizational change
relational coordination
title Relational coordination and team‐based care: Change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health system
title_full Relational coordination and team‐based care: Change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health system
title_fullStr Relational coordination and team‐based care: Change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health system
title_full_unstemmed Relational coordination and team‐based care: Change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health system
title_short Relational coordination and team‐based care: Change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health system
title_sort relational coordination and team based care change initiative overload and other challenges in a learning health system
topic healthcare delivery
hospital care
organizational change
relational coordination
url https://doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10455
work_keys_str_mv AT laurenhajjar relationalcoordinationandteambasedcarechangeinitiativeoverloadandotherchallengesinalearninghealthsystem
AT olawaleolaleye relationalcoordinationandteambasedcarechangeinitiativeoverloadandotherchallengesinalearninghealthsystem
AT juliusyang relationalcoordinationandteambasedcarechangeinitiativeoverloadandotherchallengesinalearninghealthsystem
AT susanmcgirr relationalcoordinationandteambasedcarechangeinitiativeoverloadandotherchallengesinalearninghealthsystem
AT erinesullivan relationalcoordinationandteambasedcarechangeinitiativeoverloadandotherchallengesinalearninghealthsystem