MULTIPROFESSIONAL INTEGRATION IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING: COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE CLINICAL OUTCOMES, IMPROVE PATIENT SAFETY, AND STRENGTHEN QUALITY OF CARE

Abstract

The increasing complexity of the hospital environment demands care models capable of integrating diverse professional knowledge and practices. This study aimed to analyze, through a narrative literature review, how multiprofessional collaboration is structured within hospital settings, considering the joint performance of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, speech therapists, nutritionists, and other health professionals. The search was conducted in the BVS and LILACS databases, resulting in 15 studies published between 2015 and 2025. The findings reveal that interprofessional integration goes beyond the coexistence of different categories in the hospital; it represents a relational and continuous process sustained by effective communication, role recognition, competency articulation, and shared decision-making. The literature demonstrates that integrated teams achieve greater clinical effectiveness, fewer adverse events, safer medication practices, improved functional rehabilitation, and more coherent therapeutic planning. Interprofessional education and multiprofessional residency programs emerge as essential strategies for developing collaborative competencies. However, challenges persist, especially related to hierarchical structures, fragmented care, and institutional culture. The study concludes that multiprofessional integration is a foundational element for quality and patient safety and should be strengthened through institutional policies, continuous training, and environments that promote collective and collaborative work.