Collaborative Practice Revisited: Compassion as the Missing Antecedent

Interprofessional collaboration or collaborative practice is an evidence-based practice model that can improve health outcomes in and across all care sectors and settings. It is linked with increased access to care, improvements in chronic disease management, patient safety and healthy workplaces (Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative, 2009; World Health Organization, 2010).  Although numerous policy statements promote interprofessional collaboration, and organizations attempt to integrate its concepts, it remains elusive in many health care institutions. One of the few exceptions is demonstrated in hospice and palliative care, a setting in which collaborative practice thrives. This presentation will argue an important missing antecedent in operationalizing collaborative practice - This is compassion.

Compassion is the heart of hospice and palliative care, and key to its success in achieving the benefits associated with interprofessional collaboration. In this setting, health care providers come together to advocate, and provide supportive care for the whole person and his or her family. The presentation will revisit collaborative practice within a hospice-driven focus on compassionate care. It will define a new concept, 'compassionate collaborative practice', present a revised practice model, and introduce strategies to promote and engage care partners in compassionate collaborative practice.