Collaboration

Question 1

What is collaboration?

Answer 1

Collaboration is a joint communication and decision-making process with the expressed goal of working together toward identified health outcomes while respecting the unique qualities of each member of the group or team.

Question 2

What are the four concepts of collaboration?

Answer 2

Sharing/collective ownership
Partnership
Interdependency
Responsibility

Question 3

What does sharing/collective ownership involve (related to collaboration)?

Answer 3

• responsibility
• decision-making
• health care philosophy/values
• data planning and interventions
• various professional perspectives

Question 4

What does partnership involve (related to collaboration)?

Answer 4

• Authentic, constructive relationship
• Honest communication, mutual trust, respect
• Common goals and specific outcomes pursued

Question 5

What does interdependency involve (related to collaboration)?

Answer 5

• Mutual dependence rather than being autonomous

- Results in synergy effect: “the output of the whole becomes larger than the sum of inputs from each part.”

Question 6

What does responsibility/power sharing involve (related to collaboration)?

Answer 6

• Information and responsibility is shared among team members
• Based on knowledge/experience of each professional that is respected by all
• Product of relationships and interactions amongst team members

Question 7

What are some attributes of collaboration?

Answer 7

Joint venture
Shared planning and decision-making
Client-centered
Evidence informed
Epidemiology
Access
Social Justice and Equity
Ethics

Question 8

What are some requirements for collaboration to occur?

Answer 8

Individual readiness
Understanding and acceptance of one’s own role and expertise
Confidence in one’s ability
Recognition of the boundaries of one’s discipline
Effective group dynamics
Team oriented environment
Visionary leaders supportive of autonomy

Question 9

How do nurses collaborate?

Answer 9

The nurse collaborates with patient/family and other health care professionals (HCP) in providing patient care by:

- communicating and collaborating in setting goals 		and formulating care plans 	
- consulting with other HCPs 
- making referrals to ensure continuity of pt. care ie 		discharge planning, transfers (intra vs inter)

Question 10

What are some skills needed for collaboration?

Answer 10

Communication
Leadership skills - awareness of personal feelings i.e. emotional intelligence
Problem solving
Conflict management/Negotiation
Assessment

Question 11

What is a team?

Answer 11

“ A team is a small number of consistent people committed to a relevant shared purpose, common performance goals, complementary and overlapping skills and common approach to their work… hold selves mutually accountable for team’s results or outcomes”

         (Manion, Lorimer & Leander, 1996)

Question 12

What are four types of teams?

Answer 12

Uni-disciplinary
Multi-disciplinary
Inter-disciplinary
Intra-disciplinary

Question 13

What is the difference between inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary?

Answer 13

Multi-disciplinary = different disciplines, different settings
Inter-disciplinary = different disciplines, same setting

Question 14

What are the three levels of collaboration?

Answer 14

Micro level
Meso level
Macro level

Question 15

Who is involved in the micro level of collaboration?

Answer 15

Decision-making among health care providers, other providers (e.g. family) and patients

Individual team members – understanding & attitudes can influence actualization of collaborative philosophy/practice

Question 16

Who is involved in the meso level of collaboration?

Answer 16

Meso: (Organizational)
Decision-making within particular organizations
- Eg. Administration/Hospital Board shares and supports vision/values behind collaborative policies/programs
This type of decision making involves the facility and the community levels.

Question 17

Who is involved in the macro level of collaboration?

Answer 17

Federal, Provincial, Regional, Community Government levels

Question 18

What occurs at the macro level of collaboration?

Answer 18

• Creating a shared vision for health care delivery
  
  • Developing care programs and policies that link health and social services
  • Supporting collaborative patient-centered practice
  • Ensuring planning and targeted funding are complementary

Question 19

What is intersectoral collaboration?

Answer 19

Projects involving various levels of decision making
Including central and local government agencies (Macro)
Community organizations and the private sector (Meso)
The individual and their desired care population (Micro)

Question 20

What is the ultimate goal of collaboration?

Answer 20

To provide optimal patient care.

Question 21

What are some ways to ensure good collaboration?

Answer 21

incremental approach and committed leadership i.e. takes time
Set realistic goals with commitment of all involved disciplines
Negotiate the means to meet the goals
Avoid barrier raising ‘turf battles’
Evaluate success of established goals

Question 22

What are the outcomes of collaborative relationships?

Answer 22

Professionals will be:
-more familiar with each other’s roles-> improved inter-professional communication
More consistently collaborative work accomplished
Broader shared knowledge of knowledge/skills
Cross-disciplinary peer review/critique of practice and research
*Cross-fertilization and creative idea sharing from many sectors