Message to all CAIPE members
Message to all CAIPE members from Elizabeth Howkins, Chair of CAIPE re ‘Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice' (WHO 2010). click on title to read the report.
CAIPE would like to collect and collate members’ comments on the recently published WHO document Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (WHO 2010).
The main message of the Framework is to emphasise the essential role of IPE in the preparation of a collaborative ready workforce which can strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes. To all of us working in the field of IPE the Framework offers renewed energy. CAIPE will respond to this important document but as a first step I am seeking your views.
Please read the paper set out below, with questions and send your comments to elizabeth.howkins@ntlworld.com by the 15th May 2010
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Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (WHO 2010) April 2010
CAIPE is delighted to have an opportunity to respond to the long awaited document from the World Health Organisation, Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (WHO 2010). As a first step I intend to seek the views of the CAIPE membership, collate responses and then compile a paper which will be widely disseminated in the UK and as appropriate internationally. The Framework is an important document that deserves the widest possible dissemination which can be used to promote debate on IPE and to influence policy.
To set the Framework in context I offer three brief summaries, the challenge, the overview and UK perspective
The Challenge:
The World Health Report 2006 Working Together for Health (WHO 2006) revealed a worldwide shortage in health workers. One initiative set up to tackle the health workforce shortage was the launch of the World Health Organisation Study Group on Interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice ( Yan, Gilbert and Hoffman,2007). The study group worked in collaboration with the International Association for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (INTERED). Their deliberations followed on from the IPE component identified in the WHO Alma-Ata 1978 Primary Health Care ,Report of the International Conference on Primary Care. Many CAIPE members were part of the larger study group and have made very significant contributions to this Framework.
Overview:
The framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice highlights the current status of interprofessional collaboration around the world, identifies the mechanisms that shape successful collaborative teamwork and outlines a series of actions that policy-makers can apply within their local education and health systems. The goal of the Framework is to provide strategies and ideas that will help policy-makers implement the elements of interprofessional education and collaborative practice that will be most beneficial to health systems in their own jurisdiction. (www.who.int/hrh/resources/framework_action/en)
UK perspective:
The Framework is therefore primarily aimed at policy-makers encouraging them to apply some of the examples and principles of IPE and collaborative practice outlined in the document in order to address the fragmentation and the deficits in the health work force. The argument for the efficiency and effectiveness of collaborative practice that is essentially developed through IPE is the main message from the Framework and one supported by CAIPE. The challenge for the UK is how to sustain IPE in a climate of reducing resources. At present the political message is to ‘do more with less’ as demands for health and social care continue to rise but in association with cuts in public spending. There are a growing number of strategies being encouraged in the UK to address fragmentation and duplication of services and achieve a more rational allocation of resources. Integration is the key message to all organisations providing intervention in health and social care. However, new ways of working are often introduced with little thought given to human relationships and how the workforce will work together in new and different ways. One significant argument for embedding IPE in the workplace is found in the evidence that there are benefits for collaborative practice for patients, service users and health and social care organisations in areas such as: raised staff morale, improved patient safety , better access to services , better communication and thus reduced risk of mistakes etc. ( Mickan 2005 and WHO 2010).
Your Action Now:
I would like you to read the document, make general comments and address these questions:
• What are your thoughts, views and general comments on the clarity and usefulness of the document?
• How may the framework help others such as: the patient, service user, the workforce, health and social care organisations, voluntary groups, educators, policy makers etc.?
• How will this document help CAIPE?
• What does this document mean for CAIPE?
• What is the status of the document?
• Where and to whom should CAIPE disseminate their response?
• What should be the next step, what is the follow up?
• What should be the next major global / UK IPE initiative?
Please add any further comments of your own.
I look forward to receiving your response by Saturday May 15th
Elizabeth Howkins
CAIPE CHAIR