IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT A CASE STUDY OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ILE- IFE OSUN STATE

The research focused on Importance of teamwork in health care management at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State. A total of One hundred and seventy – four (174) questionnaires were administered to respondents from which 160 questionnaires were retrieved for data analysis giving the response rate of 92% cutting across Health Information Managers, Nurses, Doctors and laboratory Scientist. Data analysis was done utilizing descriptive statistics with the use of Statistical Package for Social Statistics (SPSS) version 21. Findings of the study revealed that a substantial number of respondents (75%) agreed that teamwork plays a vital role in reducing errors, improving patient care, and enhancing job satisfaction. However, there are areas that require attention, including fostering trust and respect, addressing communication challenges, and tackling time constraints. Furthermore, challenges such as lack of resources, insufficient training, and leadership support were identified as significant barriers to effective teamwork. The study also highlighted several potential measures for improvement, such as clearer communication protocols, interdisciplinary collaboration, and providing adequate resources and training to support effective teamwork. The study concluded that healthcare teams generally function well, with strong collaborative efforts focused on patient care and team goals. However, challenges like communication barriers, lack of trust, and limited resources hinder optimal teamwork and performance. Hence, the study recommended that the hospital management should foster open and effective communication channels between all healthcare professionals to ensure seamless coordination of care. Regular multidisciplinary meetings and team-building activities could improve relationships and reduce communication barriers, which can impact patient safety and team performance Keywords: Healthcare Management, Patients, Teamwork.