Collaborative Practice

Collaborative practice is integrated functioning of multiple professionals to provide comprehensive services and quality care. The team members combine their individual expertise and work with patients, families, care providers and communities to ensure comprehensive services and highest quality care.

Collaborative practice can improve:

  • Access to and coordination of health services
  • Health outcomes for people with chronic disease
  • Patient care and safety
  • Assessment of and attention to patients' social determinants of health

Collaborative practice can decrease:

  • Patient complications
  • Hospital admissions and length of hospital stay
  • Tension and conflict among caregivers
  • Staff turnover
  • Clinical error rates and mortality rates
  • Redundant medical testing and associated costs

References

World Health Organization (WHO). (2010). Framework for action on interprofessional education & collaborative practice. Geneva: World Health Organization. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2010/WHO_HRH_HPN_10.3_eng.pdf 

Interprofessional Education Collaborative. IPEC Core Competencies. Available at: https://www.ipecollaborative.org/ipec-core-competencies. Accessed June 26, 2024.

Lemieux-Charles L et al. What do we know about health care team effectiveness? A review of the literature. Medical Care Research and Review, 2006, 63:263–300.

Mickan SM. Evaluating the effectiveness of health care teams. Australian Health Review, 2005, 29(2):211-217.

Everybody's business – strengthening health systems to improve health outcomes: WHO's framework for action. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2007.

Morey JC et al. Error reduction and performance improvements in the emergency department through formal teamwork training: Evaluation results of the MedTeams project. Health Services Research, 2002, 37:1553–1581.

West MA et al. Reducing patient mortality in hospitals: the role of human resource management. Journal of Organisational Behaviour, 2006, 27:983–1002.

Yeatts D, Seward R. Reducing turnover and improving health care in nursing homes: The potential effects of self-managed work teams.The Gerontologist, 2000, 40:358–363.