5 Interprofessional Collaboration

Purpose and core areas

Interprofessional collaboration is coordinated work among healthcare professionals and clients toward shared health goals. It combines clear communication, understanding of each person’s role, and decisions that incorporate clinical evidence alongside the client’s values and preferences.

The Interprofessional Education Collaborative identifies four core areas of collaborative practice: communication; roles and responsibilities; values and ethics; and teamwork.

Clear, timely communication

Team members should exchange information clearly, respectfully, and in time for others to act. Use language that colleagues across professions and clients can understand, explain unfamiliar terms, and invite questions. Active listening can reveal concerns or information that might otherwise be missed.

Structuring important messages

SBAR organizes a message as Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. For example, in a handoff, a nurse might report that a client’s breathing has worsened (Situation), that the client was admitted with pneumonia (Background), and that the client’s oxygen level is falling despite oxygen therapy (Assessment). The nurse might then request an immediate assessment and say they will stay with the client and recheck the level (Recommendation).

When a message includes a request or instruction, the receiver can repeat it back so the sender can confirm it was understood. Clear, structured communication supports safe, coordinated care.

Roles and responsibilities

Role clarity means understanding one’s own responsibilities, colleagues’ expertise, and how each person’s work contributes to the shared plan. Roles may vary with the setting, team structure, and client’s needs. Clarify who is responsible for each task, who will follow up, and when concerns should be escalated.

Professionals should work within their training, authorization, and organizational policies. If a need falls outside someone’s role, they should connect the client with an appropriate team member rather than assume responsibility they do not hold.

For example, a pharmacist may identify a medication interaction, the prescriber may decide whether to change the prescription, and the nurse may reinforce updated instructions with the client. Clear handoffs help ensure recommendations are acted on and essential tasks are not left unassigned. Team members should communicate their roles clearly and use knowledge of colleagues’ expertise to address care needs.

Decisions made with clients

Shared decision-making treats the client as an active participant, not simply the subject of a team discussion. The process brings together available evidence, clinicians’ knowledge and experience, and the client’s goals, values, preferences, and circumstances. The team explains reasonable options and their likely benefits and trade-offs, checks the client’s understanding, and supports an informed choice. Family members or caregivers may participate when the client wishes or when appropriate.

When several professionals are involved, they should coordinate their advice and explain how their recommendations fit together. If recommendations differ, the team should discuss the evidence and resolve confusion with the client rather than leave the client to reconcile conflicting messages alone. The agreed plan should identify next steps, responsible team members, and how the client can raise questions or report changes.

For example, a client with chronic pain may be offered medication, physical therapy, or a combination. The clinician explains potential benefits and risks, the therapist describes the exercises, and the client shares concerns about side effects and work hours. Together, they choose a feasible plan, decide who will arrange each part, and set a time to review progress.

Putting collaboration into practice

Effective interprofessional collaboration depends on understandable, timely communication; explicit roles and follow-up responsibilities; and decisions made with the client using clinical evidence and the client’s preferences. Shared plans, clear handoffs, and respectful discussion help the team act consistently toward common goals.