Health communication, gerontology/geriatrics, and the interdisciplinary team approach to health care are considered together in this paper as a critical field for communication research. The first section of the paper offers a definition of interdisciplinary health care teams, then reviews their goals, composition, history and training. The second section explains how the team approach is applicable to geriatrics, while the third section reviews the literature evaluating interdisciplinary teams, listing both positive and negative findings, of which the most significant is the need for better team communication. The fourth section raises issues for further research and evaluation by health care and communications professionals working together. (FL)