Supporting a culture of interprofessional awareness and communication – sharing the journey and the learning activities that the Capability Development Team at Capital & Coast DHB has developed to support and increase interprofessional capability in practice

Vicky Ryan1, Melita Macdonald1

1Capital & Coast DHB, Wellington, New Zealand

“The days of the brilliant solo operator in medicine are gone… The ability to be a team player is essential….for the benefit of patients.”

Professor Ron Paterson, NZ Health and Disability Commissioner (2000-2010)

Significantly, patients cite poor or lacking communication as a substantial contributor to dissatisfaction in their care. Like many large healthcare organisations, Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB) is somewhat segmented in its approach to healthcare provision. Professional and organisational barriers can negatively influence communication and therefore patient experience and outcomes.

Creating a sense of team and supporting the development of a diverse workforce is challenging. For the Allied Health, Scientific and Technical workforce, spread across 35 different professions, having a voice and sense of value in such a large organisation is not always the reality. Interprofessional education is recognised as an approach that can improve team work.

The Capability Development Team at CCDHB has taken an innovative and novel approach to supporting a culture change that enables interprofessional practice and improves patient safety and outcomes, as well as communication and a sense of team.

Using an adult learning approach and engaging with key stakeholders, the Capability Development Team has developed several learning experiences that actively promote an interprofessional approach to patient care and a greater understanding of each other’s roles and skills in the patient’s journey. These sessions are part of the new employee’s orientation and support the expectation to work in a collaborative way from the beginning of the onboarding journey.

Recent feedback from participants indicates that these sessions consistently enhance their understanding of and appreciation for the patient journey, other professions and the importance of effective communication and teamwork.

This presentation will share the journey and the learning activities that this team has developed and the plans to further increase interprofessional capability in practice.


Biography:

Melita Macdonald is an Occupational Therapist of 25 years’ experience. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings in New Zealand and in the UK. She was a Team Leader of a multidisciplinary Allied Health Team for 7 years before moving into her current role as a Senior Capability Development Advisor at Capital & Coast DHB (CCDHB) in Wellington, New Zealand in 2017.  The work outlined in this presentation has been achieved in collaboration with, Vicky Ryan, Allied Health, Scientific & Technical Educator, with the support of the wider Capability Development Team at CCDHB.

Vicky Ryan qualified as a Speech-Language Therapist in the UK, and worked in New Zealand for 9 years before moving into her current role as Allied Health, Scientific & Technical Educator at Capital & Coast DHB (CCDHB) in Wellington, New Zealand in 2016.  The work outlined in this presentation has been achieved in collaboration with Melita Macdonald, Senior Capability Development Advisor, with the support of the wider Capability Development Team at CCDHB.

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