Quality Team Coaching for Rural BC

Coaching for Five Teams

This year the QTC4RBC team worked with five rural health care teams, comprised of physicians, nurses, Physical Therapists/ Occupational Therapists, social workers, MOAs, patient coordinators, clinical supervisors, pharmacists, operations managers and more.

The teams participated in a one-day workshop followed by four team coaching sessions, spread over a period of about six months. Team leads also had the opportunity to do three leadership coaching sessions with their coach. Through the program, teams were able to work on their respective priorities which included everything from improving communication processes to building new ways of working together, to optimizing roles and responsibilities of team members.

Based on QTC4RBC coach feedback from previous cohorts and research on team coaching, QTC4RBC has implemented a two-coach per team option when appropriate. This has allowed QTC4RBC to engage with larger teams as well as enable a collaborative coaching approach that supports all involved in a better way.

New Engagement Opportunities  

Two virtual pre-engagement sessions have been added to provide teams with more information on the QTC4RBC program prior to acceptance. The QTC4RBC team has found these pre-sessions to be invaluable when identifying team readiness and building psychological safety early on.

• The Leadership Discovery Meeting includes the team leads, or folks that initiated the expression of interest (EOI), QTC4RBC coaches and support staff. This session allows time for the QTC4RBC team and applicants to ask any clarifying questions they might have about the EOI or program as well as gauge team-readiness.
• The Team Discovery Meeting invites all members of the interested team as well as the QTC4RBC coaches and support staff. This session allows the leads to share their vision for the team, as well as a brief overview of the program and significant time for the team to ask questions, be curious and bring their voices into the conversation.

To continue building connections and encouraging reflection, the QTC4RBC team offered the first QTC4RBC Reconnection Session. An invitation for all previous cohort members to gather virtually and share what is working for them, challenges they are currently experiencing and suggestions for next steps.

The QTC4RBC team was also able to offer three sessions of the Finding Your Way in Teamwork workshop in 2024. This is a participatory and interactive workshop where participants learn the attributes, skills and tools of high-functioning interprofessional teams and the critical role of developing psychological safety as the fundamental foundation of healthy teams. Participants are supported to design an action plan for strengthening psychological safety within the team they work with on a day-to-day basis.

Introducing QTC4RBC: A Video Overview and Team Success Story

To better share information on the QTC4RBC program and team with communities, a short video has been created. This video features all current members of the QTC4RBC team reflecting the values of distributed leadership seen in the program. It covers a detailed overview of the program in an accessible format. The creation of this resource helps teams interested in QTC4RBC see themselves in the opportunity and answers commonly asked questions.

Watch the video here.

The QTC4RBC team also profiled the story The East Kootenay Pathology Team, who participated in QTC4RBC in 2023-2024. The team’s focus was on communication, a better understanding of roles and responsibilities and then opportunities for quality improvement. By July 2024, the team achieved remarkable results, reducing pathology turnaround times from an average of 9.5 days to 2.5 days, the shortest in Interior Health. While workload is still a factor, the improved dynamic has been sustained. The team is able to draw on lessons learned in the coaching sessions and take time considering team wellness and quality improvement. The success of the East Kootenay pathology team demonstrates the power of teamwork and trust in transforming healthcare systems. Programs like QTC4RBC offer a roadmap for teams looking to foster collaboration and achieve meaningful improvements. Read more.