Why is IP important broadly?
As a healthcare system, my concern is that we don’t work efficiently and effectively. We’re not a machine that runs smoothly. One of the solutions to this fragmentation is IPE/IPC.
As a clinician I see this fragmentation within in teams but also at a larger level, I see it at healthcare organizations where there is lack of interprofessional practice. We continue to see power struggles among professions and I’m still not sure everyone is on the same page about the definitions of IPE/IPC. This speaks to the challenge of having so many perspectives on one issue around health and the person. We then have issues of funding and what goes on at the government level, both within provincial ministries and the federal level. Ministries don’t really talk to each other so you have a lack of collaboration here too. The work we do hits so many different domains. I think we must work collaboratively to address these broad ranging and very complex issues because fundamentally they matter and are important to address.
Why is IP important for you? Personal experiences as a patient and/or practitioner?
During my undergraduate years I was first exposed to IPC (not IPE). I was interested in helping the homeless and the mentally ill so I joined a group addressing the needs of this underserved population. I worked with students from a variety of disciplines (Occupational Therapy, Midwifery, Medicine, and Physiotherapy). We would come together, all focused on the same-shared desire to help this segment of the population. This really opened my eyes because it was the first time I was with other disciplines, learning what perspectives they had and learning about how they approached these complex health needs.
Even though I’d been fortunate enough to have the experience described here, I didn’t, as noted, have an IPE component to base my thinking on. When I started work as an RN I still had some questions about what other disciplines did and how we fit together as part of a team. I knew I had roles that were delegated to me but I still really didn’t know how we painted the picture together. When I started doing my MScN, as I was working as an RN, I was able to see the educational side as well. I had one foot in theory and one still in practice so I could marry them in my mind. Added to this was that the hospital I was working at was going through an amalgamation process and I saw that we didn’t have a common team vision or model of practice to base our work. In my student role, I also found myself socializing with people of other disciplines, learning about them as people and learning about their provider perspectives as well. I think this dual focus really helped to cement my focus on IPC and IPE.
Examples from your life when IP worked (maybe a personal experience as a patient or with a family member)?
In my current job we had a case come up about the use of restraints. There was definite disagreement amongst the team about the use of restraints, what restraint meant and whether or not the patient even required restraint. One discipline sought out literature on the subject that she brought back to the team, another team member, a nurse, brought to the table their expertise that included a number of safety issues. Yet another team member felt that she was not being heard at all and that we were simply ignoring her perspective. It was my job to mediate this very difficult and conflict driven situation. I set up a meeting with all team members whereby we could all listen to and hear the other perspective. It was an emotional meeting but ultimately a good one because we were able to voice the benefits and risks of the restraints while at the same time coming up with a creative solution that worked for the patient as well. If I were to use a single word to describe the process it would be synergy. What was also interesting was that in my follow up I went back to a few of the people with whom I felt there was perhaps some residual tension (while the meeting was good it was, as noted, emotional and an emotional situation can very often leave some leftover feelings that should be resolved). In those follow up conversations we were really able to work through anything that was leftover. I now have a fantastic relationship with those involved in this case and I think it’s primarily because of this approach. The approach solidified teamwork, emphasized creative solutions and respect. This was a really important experience for me as a clinician.
Examples from your life when you wish you had seen more IP in action?
I think it’s really important to have all members of the team present. I say this as I’m thinking back about an exercise I did some time ago when those of participating were coming up with a model of care. We thought we had the physician group represented but we were wrong. As I look back on it I realize that we didn’t have all the right stakeholders and those who were there, were not engaged in the right way. We all have a different perspective and a different way of viewing health and that means we learn differently as well. Power Points and discussion don’t always work and you can’t always get folks in the same room at the same time so you have to be creative. In this particular case, we didn’t engage the physician group well enough. When it came time to implement our model of care, they didn’t want to move forward. I understand now that it was because we didn’t properly engage them using creative methods that were more cognizant of the different ways in which each discipline approaches health.
What song best carries the IP spirit?
The one I’m thinking of is from Sesame Street. It’s their cooperation video, it’s called “Cooperation Makes it Happen”. In the song they teach about cooperation by demonstrating the teamwork involved to build a street garden, something that can be appreciated by all. To me, this is a metaphor for what we do every day. Check out the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anNcJilRNNM
What fictional character is a good IP role model?
Captain Planet whose purpose is to protect planet Earth. I think he’s a good IP role model because he’s not only a leader but he also brings people together. In fact, this superhero is summoned by the “powers combined” of the entire team (also known as the “Planeteers”). The Planeteers and Captain Planet symbolize that together these individuals are stronger and are more effective than as independent individuals. His messaging at the end of every show is “The Power is Yours” which to me represents that each of us bring something special to this world and that he alone is not the solution.
What food best represents IP?
I’d say a lasagne. There are many essential pieces that go into it. You just can’t have pasta and sauce, otherwise it’s not lasagne. You need the meat and/or veggies and sauce to layer just right to bring it all together into something unique. I see it as a dish that combines individual pieces and brings the together as something cohesive and wonderful. The cheese is sort of like the leader, because it binds the whole dish together.
Where would you like CIHC to be in 5 years?
I’d like to see a few things happen. First, I think the CIHC should take a stronger focus on those on the front lines. I think the work that’s been done to date is fantastic and builds a great foundation (the research the curriculum work etc), but now I think it’s time now to have an organization that devotes effort and energy into bringing front line staff to conferences to talk through real solutions. I’ve been to many conferences and I see that it’s not the front line people who are there. Without a more grass-roots level of involvement there is little chance for implementation. I’d love to see the CIHC be a champion of this type of grass-roots movement. I’d also love to see the CIHC leading focus groups with these same front-liners to really understand what’s required to implement IPC. I also think it would be great for the CIHC to bridge the gap between the academic and the practice world. It would be a mistake to swing the pendulum too far from the academic, but by the same token there is a gap that exists between those in academia and those in practice. There could be real strength in bridging these relationships and I see that the CIHC could pay a role here too. I’m focusing here on a more community type approach for the CIHC that goes back to the practice world with academic support. I also think that we need to get policymakers talking about primary healthcare and prevention and I think we need to focus more on patient groups. We need their voice at these tables. This is the type of work I would love to see the CIHC take on.
