A National Interprofessional Competency Framework

Abstract

The overall goal of interprofessional education and collaborative practice is to provide health system users with improved health outcomes. Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) occurs when learners/practitioners, patients/clients/families and communities develop and maintain interprofessional working relationships that enable optimal health outcomes. Interprofessional education (IPE), which is the process of preparing people for collaborative practice, and IPC itself, are more and more frequently incorporated into health professional education and models of practice. For this reason, a clear understanding of the characteristics of the ideal collaborative practitioner is required to inform curriculum and professional development for interprofessional education, and enlighten professional practice for interprofessional collaboration.