Paper
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Growing International Capacity for Evidence-Based Practice: Transdisciplinary Collaborative Learning Groups Maximize the Use of Clinical Tools and Resources
Diane Hanson, RN, BSN, MN, CPM Resource Center, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| Learning Objective #1: Explain a Transdisciplinary Collaborative Learning Group methodology that can be used to grow international capacity for evidence-based practice principles. |
| Learning Objective #2: Identify how evidence-based practice can be supported at the point of care with collaborative practice dialogue and collective clinical tool development. |
As healthcare organizations strategize to align with patient safety and quality initiatives, evidence-based practice is being positioned as a high priority in healthcare organizations. Unfortunately, the reality for many organizations is that the time and resources required to develop, implement and sustain an infrastructure that supports evidence-based practice is an overwhelming task. Even when evidence is readily available, finding meaningful ways to support knowledge acquisition and integration into daily practice patterns poses a unique challenge. Healthcare organizations are filled with caring, committed professional caregivers who are taking care of increasingly complex patients, many with chronic diseases and co-morbidities. Expecting caregivers to do more without adequate clinical tools and resources will not be sustainable. Integrating evidence-based practice tools into daily care routines and linking with a collaborative learning infrastructure will grow the capacity for true practice change. Collaborative infrastructures are necessary to stimulate evidence-based practice dialogue between transdisciplinary point of care providers, create continuous learning opportunities and provide a forum for collective practice tool development and validation. An international health care consortium has developed and implemented Collaborative Learning Groups to grow capacity for evidence-based practice at the point of care. Interdisciplinary members from healthcare organizations in the USA and Canada participate in collaborative learning communities to strengthen evidence-based practice and maximize resources for clinical tool development and deployment into practice environments. The international consortium partners as an IHI node. Collaborative Learning Groups align their collective work with IHI as well as other patient safety and quality initiatives. The collaborative use of clinical tools allow for tracking and real-time reporting of overall impacts with evidence-based practice initiatives. This presentation, intended for all clinical and leadership roles in health care organizations, will demonstrate how transdisciplinary collaborative learning groups can grow international capacity for evidence based practice at the point of care.