A Framework That Fits
Enhancing Interdisciplinary
Collaboration in Primary Health Care (EICP)
Initiative
Principles & Framework
EICP Initiative
• Enhancing Interdisciplinary Collaboration
in Primary Health Care (EICP)
• $6.5M Contribution Agreement from Health
Canada’s Primary Health Care Transition
Fund (PHCTF)
• Led by ten national health care
associations
www.eicp-acis.ca
Health professionals
- all on the same page
Canadian Coalition on Enhancing Preventative Practices
of Health Professionals
www.eicp-acis.ca
EICP
Steering Committee
• Canadian Association of Occupational
Therapists
• Canadian Association of Social Workers
• Canadian Association of Speech-Language
Pathologists and Audiologists
• Canadian Medical Association
• Canadian Nurses Association
• Canadian Pharmacists Association
www.eicp-acis.ca
EICP
Steering Committee
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Canadian Physiotherapy Association
Canadian Psychological Association
College of Family Physicians of Canada
Dietitians of Canada
Canadian Coalition on Enhancing
Preventative Practices of Health
Professionals
www.eicp-acis.ca
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• “Interdisciplinary collaboration refers
to the positive interaction of two or
more health professionals, who bring
their unique skills and knowledge to
assist patients/clients and families with
their health decisions.”
—(Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists (CAOT), 2005
www.eicp-acis.ca
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The right service,
provided at the right time,
in the right place,
by the right professional
www.eicp-acis.ca
Purpose of the EICP
• To develop the regulated health professions’
shared vision of interdisciplinary
collaboration (IDC) in primary health care
(PHC)
• To develop support for fundamental and
effective change in PHC in Canada that
reflects this shared vision
• To help sustain this change at the
association and the individual practitioner
levels in cooperation with other partners (i.e.
governments, providers, public etc.)
www.eicp-acis.ca
Deliverables
• Consultations
• Research
• Principles
• Framework
• Tool Kit
www.eicp-acis.ca
Evidence Based
• Small group consultations (public, providers,
government officials)
• Regional workshops (providers, experts,
government officials)
• Analysis of workbooks completed by
providers and policy-makers
• Two Leaders’ Forums (providers, experts,
government officials)
• Five Barrier/Enabling Task Forces (providers,
experts, government officials)
• Five full research reports (literature reviews)
www.eicp-acis.ca
What are Principles?
• Reflect shared values for
interdisciplinary collaboration (IDC)
• Guide current and future decision
about policies, programs and services
www.eicp-acis.ca
EICP Principles
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Patient/client engagement
Population health approach
Best possible care and services
Access
Trust and respect
Effective communication
www.eicp-acis.ca
− Principle−
Patient/Client Engagement
• Patients/clients the priority focus
• Patients/clients involved in decision-making
& management of their own health care
• Professionals work together to optimize the
physical, cognitive & mental health &
wellness of their patients/clients
• Privacy & confidentiality are paramount
www.eicp-acis.ca
− Principle −
Population Health Approach
• Set priorities, establish strategies & make
investments in action to improve the health
of the population
• Assess needs and health problems present
in a community
• Needs are addressed in a holistic fashion
across the continuum of care
• Programs & services are tailored to address
health determinants, while meeting the
needs of individual patients/clients
www.eicp-acis.ca
− Principle −
Best Possible Care and Services
• Research results are basis for quality
standards & treatment decisions
• Continuous evaluation to measure health
outcomes, ensure accountability, track
performance & assure quality
• Commitment to continuous improvement
www.eicp-acis.ca
− Principle −
Access
• The right service, provided at the right time,
in the right place & by the right professional
• Geographic barriers are minimized
• Services available close to where people live,
work & learn
• Respect for age, income, gender, culture,
language, religion & lifestyle factors/
differences
www.eicp-acis.ca
− Principle −
Trust and respect
• Key to interdisciplinary collaboration
• Each profession brings its own set of
knowledge & skills
• Supports shared decision-making, creativity
& innovation
• Professionals learn from each other &
understand the competencies of peers
• Direct benefit to patients/clients
www.eicp-acis.ca
− Principle −
Effective Communication
• Both at the organizational & interpersonal
levels
• Active listening and effective communication
required with patients/clients & with
colleagues
• Professionals & systems support team
information-sharing and decision-making
www.eicp-acis.ca
What is a Framework?
• Built on the foundation principles
• Composed of structural elements
required to sustain IDC
• Describes characteristics of a systemic
approach and the elements need to
support the operation of PHC
• Elements are interrelated
www.eicp-acis.ca
EICP Framework Elements
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Health Human Resources
Funding
Liability
Regulation
Information and Communications
Technology
• Management and Leadership
• Planning and Evaluation
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Health Human Resources
• Must address the availability, education &
distribution of health human resources
(HHR)
• Maximize the skill sets & competencies of all
professionals
• Help address the work–life balance issues &
working conditions overall
• Clearly articulated roles & responsibilities for
each team member
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Funding
• Create a positive incentives through
innovative funding models
• Payment methods (e.g. fee-for-service,
salary, capitation or various blended
mechanisms) can facilitate/promote IDC
• Align funding with EICP Principles for IDC
• Adequate and reliable funding needed to
support IDC
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Liability
• Two directions required:
– integrated approach to liability insurance that
links the various systems now in place &
supports principles of IDC (e.g. recognizes shared
decision-making)
– clear legislated scopes of practice for each health
discipline
• Patient safety and risk management are priorities
• Alleviate worry about liability so focus is on the
patient/client
• Education program for judicial/legal community
about collaborative practice.
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Regulation
• Regulatory colleges must embrace & support
IDC
• Give regulators of various professional
disciplines the mechanisms to work together
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Information & Communications Technology
• Sharing information critical to quality care &
basis of collaboration
• Linked to improved continuity of care,
service delivery, & reduction of adverse
events
• Provides timely access to up-to-date
information
• Learning & adapting to technologies is a key
challenge
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Information& Communication Technology
• An interoperable, private and secure EHR will
be fundamental to the ability of teams to
collaborate
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Management & Leadership
• Leaders must be committed to a vision for
collaborative primary health care
• Build on “best practices”
• Build skills in communication, change
management, teamwork & leadership
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Management & Leadership
• Strong administrative support
• Appropriate governance structures
• IDC takes time & resources
www.eicp-acis.ca
−Framework−
Planning & Evaluation
• Does IDC deliver?
• Ultimate goal = measuring outcomes (health, team &
organization) of IDC
• Strong centralized administrative support is required
• Based on the characteristics & needs of the
population served
• Evaluation frameworks & assessment tools are
being developed
• Frameworks and tools
• Benchmarking
www.eicp-acis.ca
Get Involved
• EICP web site at www.eicp-acis.ca
• Register with our Guestbook to receive
updates and our e-newsletter
• Talk to your professional association about
how to get involved
www.eicp-acis.ca
Change Management
• Where are we, as professions, in
collaborative, interdisciplinary care?
www.eicp-acis.ca
Toolkit
• Lexicon
• What tools (practical & policy) would help
you facilitate the adoption of IDC practices in
primary health care?
www.eicp-acis.ca
www.eicp-acis.ca