Interprofessional Core Competencies

Learning Objectives

After completing this experience,students will be better able to:

Communication

Occurs when two or more persons from different professions interact to enhance the exchange of meaningful information.

1. Be  responsive to and interactive with members of other professions in a manner that fosters collaboration
2. Effectively exchange knowledge and ideas with other professions.
3. Ensure that information exchanged is being heard and understood correctly through active listening and reflection
4. Use information systems and technology to exchange relevant information among the professionals

Professionalism

A shared values perspective and set of ethical principles that affirms joint responsibilities for ensuring good health and safe, effective health care for all

1. Establish and focus common goals across professions for patient/family/community centered care.
2. Display interest, trust, and mutual respect across the professions
3. Exchange information about own and other professions’  culture, values, roles and scope of practice
4. Develop, promote, and exercise non-judgmental integrity, honesty, social responsibility and ethical behavior in all professional activities

Shared problem solving

Working together across the professions to address a situation requiring collective knowledge and skills to develop optimal approaches/solutions.

1. Determine whom to involve depending on the needs of the patient/client
2. Share discipline specific knowledge with the team
3. Integrate collective knowledge to develop alternative solutions
4. Identify which team member will take the appropriate leadership/facilitator role in specific contexts

Shared decision making

Collectively agreed plan of action involving two or more professions resting on the best evidence of risks and benefits for each available option

1. Negotiate actions with other health professionals based on an understanding of scope of practice and other practice constraints
2. Implement joint decisions taking into account all options and evidence provided, discussed and evaluated for risks and benefits
3. Define individual responsibility for implementing joint decision and follow-up.
4. Share responsibility for team decisions, culture, and values.

Conflict resolution

A process used to address disagreements and arrive at a mutually agreeable outcome through the use of mediation, diplomacy, and negotiation across the professions

1. Understand issues that may contribute to the development of conflict and ensure conflicts are addressed before they become counterproductive
2. Re-evaluate own position in light of new information from others
3. Identify strategies for addressing disagreements, and approaching situations in which conflict is likely to occur.
4. Ensure that complexity, uncertainty and other stressful situations do not negatively affect relationships or the care of patients/clients.