What is interprofessional collaboration?
Interprofessional collaboration is an approach where people from different occupations work together to achieve common goals and solve complex problems. In health care, institutions that use this approach seek to improve communication, awareness, accountability and autonomy in the workplace. Here are three key areas in which you can employ this kind of collaboration in health care:
- Research: Researchers from various sectors work together to discover, investigate and study advances in the scientific field. For example, someone studying vaccines may collaborate with infectious disease doctors to determine a medication’s effectiveness.
- Education: Health care professionals might use this approach to learn about other areas of their industry and apply this knowledge and training to advance their careers. They can also collaborate to understand more about specialized medical practices to guide their career decisions.
- Workplace: Interprofessional collaboration in a medical workplace can take the form of functional group meetings or regular communication between departments in health care settings. Each professional shares their unique perspective on either individual cases or larger initiatives to provide the best quality of care to patients and the best service to their communities.
Why is interprofessional collaboration important?
This method of collaboration is important because modern health care practices aim to connect teams of professionals with patients to provide the best medical care. Interprofessional collaboration among health care providers allows medical professionals to focus on each patient to improve outcomes and reduce instances of inefficient practices. Partnerships based on collaborative communication make it easier to deliver personalized care plans that treat the whole health of the patient.
As medical professionals continue to administer interconnected care, patients benefit from the perspective of multiple health care providers. Interprofessional collaboration among doctors, nurses, specialists and other health care practitioners also promotes a broader understanding of treatment and care across the medical field.
Benefits of interprofessional collaboration
This approach can benefit both an institution’s operations and the medical professionals who work there. Here are a few important benefits:
Quality of care
Collaborating as a team and communicating clear goals and findings with each other can help provide higher-quality care for patients. For example, if someone checks into the emergency room with shortness of breath, they may see multiple medical professionals who assess and diagnose the issue. Working together, these individuals can share their findings, assumptions and recommendations to develop the best way to treat the patient.
Education across departments
With interprofessional education, students observe professions outside of their particular program. Nursing students may observe or perform clinical studies with physician assistants or doctors, and vice versa. Learning between departments provides additional context to a professional’s own job responsibilities. Bringing this knowledge to the workplace also promotes cross-checking of data and information, leading to an overall reduction in medical errors.
Skill development
Professionals learn and develop unique skills depending on their assigned tasks and daily interactions. For example, administrative professionals may have excellent computer skills, while nurses usually possess exceptional interpersonal skills. Interprofessional collaboration can help nurses and administrative professionals learn new skills from each other that may ultimately help patients.
Access to information
Access to technology and knowledge that typically exists in just one specialization or department can help medical professionals learn more about the entire patient care process. For example, a general physician may gain access and review reports from a specialist to identify areas of concern. By collaborating and discussing these detailed observations, both professionals can create more effective treatment plans.
Positive work environment
A collaborative environment often improves communication in the workplace and elevates diverse voices. Collaborative rounds, for example, with nurses and doctors can increase communication in an environment and help nurses feel heard. Technology specialists, physicians and assistants all hold equal roles in a collaborative environment, which can help some individuals feel more valued.
Tips for implementing interprofessional collaboration
Taking time to carefully organize an interdisciplinary group benefits both health care providers and patients. Here are some tips to use when implementing interprofessional collaboration in your team:
- Choose groups purposefully. Examine the value interprofessional collaboration can provide in your organization, and consider implementing certain elements where needed. Collaboration is most effective in diverse groups operating independently, so smaller practices or specialized offices might already collaborate informally.
- Establish clear values and objectives. It’s critical to identify core value and learning objectives when establishing a collaborative group where individuals share unique ideas, practices and experiences. This also helps individuals who historically work independently, like doctors or specialists, improve their collaborative skills and achieve group goals.
- Identify challenges. Allotting time for team meetings in person or through digital channels requires commitment and organization from all involved parties. Identify any common challenges such as funding concerns or personality differences.
- Leverage existing practices. Use existing practices that work well for your team and your discipline. Share effective routines and explain why each practice works with collaborative partners.
- Solicit feedback. Interprofessional collaboration thrives when professionals engage in productive discussions about patient care. Medical professionals from other disciplines may contribute new ideas that lead to enhanced care practices.
- Value individual experience. To ensure collaborative team members retain their professional identities, establish a culture that highlights team members’ unique skills and experiences. This can help limit the competitive aspect of the group and enable a truly collaborative space where individuals know their expertise matters.