Interprofessional Collaboration and Communication

Abstract

Interprofessional collaboration is crucial in hospitals because healthcare teams face challenges, such as complexity of clinical practice, high variation in clinical demand, ever-changing teams, and heavy workload. Moreover, communication between professionals does not always flow as it should. Ineffective or absent interprofessional collaboration has a negative impact on patient outcomes, such as medication errors, failure to rescue, increased hospital-acquired infection rates, and extended lengths of stay. Ineffective collaboration between healthcare workers was linked to two out of every three sentinel events (severe adverse events) reported to the Joint Commission’s databases. Developing effective teams and redesigned systems is vital to achieving safer, timelier, more patient-centered, effective, efficient, and equitable patient care. We can look at the Interprofessional Education Collaborative or IPEC competency framework for the competencies teams need to master to achieve role clarity, clear communication, and excellent teamwork and create a climate of mutual respect and shared values. The TeamSTEPSS educational intervention package can be used for improving team performance. In order to ensure the best possible patient outcomes, a smooth flow of collaboration and communication in the triangle between clinical nurses, nurse managers, and physicians can overcome turbulence and uncertainty in healthcare settings.