Let us Collaborate!

Let Us Collaborate!

Working in an acute care setting that has a patient and family centered model of care, has exemplified the need for a high functioning team to provide quality and safe care. Collaboration has become a focus and many professions have adopted this as a core competency for entry to practice. The CSRT released the new competency framework for Respiratory Therapists in 2016. Core Competency B3 (p.36) for entry to practice is, “Collaborate in the interprofessional health care team”. This is the first time the competency has focused on the term collaborate and not just teamwork. Previously, collaboration is something students learn on clinical practicums or in the early stages of their career without out any clearly defined direction or outcome measures. Now that it has become an expectation for starting your career, a focus on educating students has become a priority.

The local Respiratory Therapy program is offered at Dalhousie University and the university has made a commitment to teaching collaboration as a foundation for their students. They recognize that in our current health care system teaching collaboration across professions will result in better care. The university has dedicated resources to the initiative and has even named a new building, “the Collaborative Health Education Building (CHEB).” This article in the Metro (2015) from the unveiling of the building explains how the university plans to educate and collaborate. They have also added mandatory interprofessional learning events to every health professions program requirements. Personally, I experienced these efforts as a preceptor to students coming to our hospital for clinical practice. They have amazed me with their understanding of other professions and their ability to facilitate teamwork in patient care planning at a professional level. Having this knowledge early on creates a solid foundation for future success.

In our current health care system, there are several professions working together at the same time, which all have a contribution to make to providing excellent patient care. Each of the contributions is significant and will only result in improved care.

Let us all collaborate and be happy!

Resources:

http://www.csrt.com/download/ncf-part-entry-practice-2016/?wpdmdl=15595

http://www.metronews.ca/news/halifax/2015/12/01/dalhousie-opens-collaborative-health-building-in-halifax.html