Improving Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration

About this course

Interprofessional communication involves verbal, written, and non-verbal communication, and is a fundamental component of interprofessional collaboration. To improve patient safety and outcomes, all healthcare professionals should communicate in a collaborative, responsive, and responsible manner. This learning activity provides an overview of interprofessional communication and collaboration, principles, and common tools for conflict prevention.

Learning objectives

• Describe interprofessional communication and collaboration
• Understand the importance of interprofessional communication and collaboration
• Review common principles of interprofessional communication and collaboration
• Review tools that help improve interprofessional communication and collaboration

Course outline

7 sections · finish in any order across devices

1. 1

   Introduction

   Effective interprofessional communication and collaboration are key to improving patient outcomes. Opposite to this, poor communication and collaboration has shown to result in bad patient outcomes. ² Poor patient outcomes are usually caused by preventable errors, and are often the result of multipl

   4 min

2. 2

   Conflict Prevention

   Conflict can be described as failing to agree or be in accord. For example, two healthcare professionals may have different opinions on a treatment regimen, leading to a disagreement. Having differences in opinions alone does not lead to conflict. Conflict arises when one healthcare professional’s b

   4 min

3. 3

   Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration Tools

   There are numerous resources to facilitate interprofessional communication and collaboration. These resources share the common goals of helping to provide structure and clarity, and assist in conveying succinct, comprehensive, and relevant information to another healthcare professional to improve pa

   4 min

4. 4

   B-Background

   Include diagnosis, comorbidities, lab results, diagnostic results, any medications, and allergies

   4 min

5. 5

   R-Recommendation

   State a clear recommendation with a time frame for improvement

   4 min

6. 6

   Simulation

   The role of simulation training in medicine is well established. ¹ A review concluded that medical simulation training resulted in an overall positive effect on learning, knowledge, and skills and that these effects are transferrable into clinical practice. ⁶ Moreover, the benefits of simulation tra

   4 min

7. 7

   Conclusion

   Healthcare professionals from multiple disciplines must effectively communicate and facilitate healthcare delivery through teams rather than individual providers. Failures of inter-professional communication and collaboration can lead to compromised patient care, medical errors, increased sentinel e

   4 min

This course satisfies

Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. Always confirm details with your board before you renew.

References and resources

• Anderson, K. T., Appelbaum, R., Bartz-Kurycki, M. A., Tsao, K., & Browne, M. (2018). Advances in perioperative quality and safety. Seminars in Pediatric Surgery, 27(2), 92-101.
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• Omura, M., Levett‐Jones, T., & Stone, T. E. (2019). Design and evaluation of an assertiveness communication training programme for nursing students. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(9-10), 1990-1998.
• Pajalich, L. (2019). Collaboration in healthcare delivery interprofessional. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 15, 112-113.
• Pattni, N., Arzola, C., Malavade, A., Varmani, S., Krimus, L., & Friedman, Z. (2019). Challenging authority and speaking up in the operating room environment: A narrative synthesis. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 122(2), 233-244.
• Pena G., Altree M., Field J., Sainsbury D., Babidge W., Hewett P., Maddern G., (2015). Nontechnical skills training for the operating room: A prospective study using simulation and didactic workshop. Surgery, 158(1):300-9.
• Provost S. M., Lanham H. J., Leykum L. K., McDaniel R. R. Jr, Pugh J., (2015). Health care huddles: managing complexity to achieve high reliability. Health Care Management Review, 40(1):2-12.
• Sonali, S., & Kaur, H. (2020). The human factor: The critical importance of effective teamwork and communication in providing quality and safe care. Journal of Clinical Engineering, 45(3), 150-154.

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