ALLIANCE: A Closer Look at Interprofessional Collaboration
Collaboration between professionals of different disciplines is an invaluable asset in the healthcare field. Alliances between healthcare professionals have been proven to result in better patient outcomes and improved patient safety (Ferguson et al., 2019). The term “alliance” is used to refer to a professional collaboration between two or more healthcare professionals. In this article, we will explore the definition of an alliance, the benefits of an alliance, and strategies for forming an effective alliance.
Definition of Alliance
An alliance is a formal arrangement between two or more healthcare professionals to provide a unified, comprehensive approach to patient care (Gonzalez-Fernandez et al., 2020). In an alliance, each professional contributes their expertise to a shared goal of providing high-quality patient care. Alliances are often interprofessional, meaning that members of different disciplines work together to provide comprehensive care. Examples of interprofessional alliances include a physician and a nurse collaborating on a patient’s care plan, or a physical therapist and an occupational therapist working together to rehabilitate a patient.
Benefits of Alliance
Alliances provide numerous benefits for both patients and healthcare professionals. For patients, alliances can lead to improved health outcomes due to increased communication between healthcare professionals. This increased communication allows for more informed decision-making and a more comprehensive approach to patient care. Alliances can also lead to improved patient satisfaction, as patients feel more involved in their care when multiple professionals are working together to meet their needs (Herman et al., 2020).
For healthcare professionals, alliances can lead to improved job satisfaction and a sense of professional fulfillment. Working together with colleagues from other disciplines allows professionals to share their knowledge and expertise and gain a better understanding of the healthcare field as a whole. Alliances can also lead to increased collaboration and trust between professionals, resulting in improved communication and better patient outcomes (Gonzalez-Fernandez et al., 2020).
Strategies for Effective Alliance
In order for an alliance to be successful, it is important to develop strategies for effective collaboration. Professionals should strive to foster a sense of trust and respect between all members of the alliance. This can be achieved by listening to one another’s opinions and being open to new ideas. In addition, it is important to establish clear expectations and roles for each member of the alliance. This will help to ensure that all professionals understand their responsibilities and are working together towards the same goal. Finally, it is important to create a safe environment where professionals can openly discuss difficult topics and where constructive feedback is encouraged (Ferguson et al., 2019).
Conclusion
Alliances between healthcare professionals can provide numerous benefits for both patients and professionals. An alliance is a formal arrangement between two or more healthcare professionals to provide a unified, comprehensive approach to patient care. Alliances can lead to improved health outcomes for patients due to increased communication between healthcare professionals, as well as improved job satisfaction for healthcare professionals. In order for an alliance to be successful, it is important to develop strategies for effective collaboration, such as fostering a sense of trust and respect, establishing clear expectations and roles, and creating a safe environment for open discussion.
References
Ferguson, M., Bell, S., Churcher, C., & Reid, J. (2019). The importance of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. The Clinical Teacher, 16(1), 87-91.
Gonzalez-Fernandez, M., Serna, C., & Buitrago, L. (2020). Benefits of interprofessional collaboration in health care: A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 100, 103493.
Herman, A., Brown, M., & Parsons, M. (2020). The impact of interprofessional collaboration on patient outcomes. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(1), 64-69.