Interprofessional Collaboration, Essay Example

Interprofessional collaboration in health promotion initiatives in maternity section involves the formation of a working relationship involving the partnership between the clients and the health care providers in the context of participatory collaborative as well as coordinated approach of shearing decision making on social as well as health issues. The practice of interprofessional collaboration is a crucial process that entails making decisions, communicating and facilitating synergistic influences that arise from group skills as well as knowledge (University of Washington Center for Health Sciences, 2010). Most patients in the maternity section are associated with complex needs that calls for aopplication of skills and knowledge from diverse fields.

The constituents of collaborative practice are accountability, communication, responsibility, assertiveness, autonomy, coordination, respect and trust. Partnership plays a crucial role in the creation of interprofessional teams that are designed to function with aspirations of meeting a specific goal in the enhancement of the patients’ outcome in the maternity section. In collaborative interactions, professional cultures are blended which is made possible by the sharing of knowledge as well as skills that help in the enhancement of quality pf care for the patients in the maternity section. The effectiveness of the team is determined through important characteristics (Waddell Isaza, Murray, Glikes, & Davidson, 2010). These characteristics include the ability of the members to perceive their roles as being important to the entire team, autonomy, communicating openly and resources equality. If interprofessional collaboration is poor, it is likely to result to negative impacts to the quality of care for the patient. It is therefore crucial to consider application of skills that are acquired through interprofessional education while working as a member of interprofessional team so that high quality care for the patient is realized.

References

Waddell R, Isaza N, Murray G, Glikes M, Davidson RA. (2010). The role of veterinary medicine in an interdisciplinary family health course. J Vet Med Educ. 37:126–9.

University of Washington Center for Health Sciences, (2010). Interprofessional Education.  Available from: htttp://www.interprofessional.washington.edu/default.asp (cited 28 June    2010)