Interprofessional Education Collaborative in Healthcare
Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC)
These competencies to me represent the attempts of the health care system and its education sector to build upon evidence-based knowledge that collaborative care ultimately leads to better patient and organizational outcomes. By establishing IPEC and the said competencies, it helps to prepare health professionals beginning with their education, to learn how to collaborate, communicate, and integrate interprofessional care. I believe that learning about interprofessional collaborative practice will greatly enhance the quality of care that I can provide as a health professional in the future. Approaching treatment in a comprehensive manner with the input of other key professionals to generate the best care possible will be vital to my professional practice.
Values/Ethics
The first sub-competency of respecting the dignity and privacy of patients while maintaining confidentiality will be implemented as a high standard of care. Human dignity is a human right, I will strive to implement this by promoting patient dignity at the individual level by respecting their privacy, helping them to maintain decency even if ill, and supporting their decision-making (Raee et al., 2017). Another sub-competency of developing a trusting relationship with patients, families, and team members is also necessary but natural to implement. I can implement this in practice by demonstrating kindness, respect, and openness towards others. I will be honest but supportive and attempt to build relationships on an individual basis through good communication practices, especially for long-term relationships with other team members.
Roles/Responsibilities
One of the competencies that stand out is recognizing one’s limitations in skill and knowledge. This is critical in healthcare, especially for new professionals who are eager to prove themselves. Sometimes risk is necessary for medicine, but any such risks should be confirmed with more experienced professionals or experts in their respective specialties, which I will seek to consult in situations where I am outside my expertise or overwhelmed. The sub-competency of using unique and complementary abilities of all team members to optimize healthcare is also an effective means of providing the best patient care. As a healthcare professional, I can do this by consulting other team members regarding areas of their expertise, seeking second opinions, inviting members of the team to work together on a patient problem, and ensuring to communicate effectively. According to Cunningham et al., (2017), only through working together or shared experiences can team members discover their respective roles and be aware of each other’s complementary abilities on a professional level.
Interprofessional Communication
The sub-competency of communicating with patients, families, and team members in a way that is understandable and comprehensible is a fundamental element of patient-provider communication. I will implement this by, as recommended, using everyday language with patients and families, introducing supplementary educational material whenever possible, and ensuring they understand. As for other team members, while they may be medically trained as well, it is better to use simple and direct language. In both cases, it increases satisfaction and improves outcomes (Hermann et al., 2019). Another sub-competency of using respectful language is a given. As a professional, it is critical to stay focused and collected, avoiding emotional outbursts or especially personal attacks. Demonstrating respect and dignity to everyone in communication is beneficial for finding solutions and building relationships.
Team and Teamwork
Engaging health professionals in shared patient-centered problem-solving is vital to finding the best medical solutions to any potential issues or diagnoses. As mentioned previously, consulting other team members and seeking a second professional opinion on some potentially challenging patient-related decisions is encouraged, each professional using their expertise to contribute in order to avoid potential errors and find the best possible treatment. Finally, the competency of reflecting on individual and team performance is not often considered, but it is an essential aspect of being professional. I can implement this in practice by taking the time to reflect on my performance in a specific time period (weekly or monthly) or after difficult cases. It is also important not to be afraid of bringing feedback to the team, offering constructive comments on how things can be improved and discussing it with members, as potentially some positives can be discovered and used in practice.
References
Cunningham, S., Foote, L., Sowder, M., & Cunningham, C. (2017). Interprofessional education and collaboration: A simulation-based learning experience focused on common and complementary skills in an acute care environment. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 32(3), 395–398. Web.
Hermann, R. M., Long, E., & Trotta, R. L. (2019). Improving patients’ experiences communicating with nurses and providers in the emergency department. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 45(5), 523–530. Web.
Raee, Z., Abedi, H., & Shahriari, M. (2017). Nurses’ commitment to respecting patient dignity. Journal of Education and Health Promotion, 6. Web.