Playing the Team-building Game

THERE IS AN OLD SAYING THAT politics makes strange bedfellows. With all the changes brought about by managed care, the same thing could be said of health care today. Nurses, especially in an NICU, recognize and value the concept of teamwork. We have always worked closely with a variety of medical professionals and often lead discussions related to a patient's plan of care. But lately, it seems that members of our "teams" are diversifying, and we find ourselves working with people, groups, or organizations in a manner not previously envisioned. Although we have always worked collaboratively with other departments within the hospital, now we are also building relationships with community agencies and organizations, suppliers of durable medical equipment for home care use, and other nonhospital-based sources of support for patients and families.