STANDARD 2.

Collaboration / Interprofessional Collaboration

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) participate in collaborative practice with interprofessional healthcare team members to facilitate patient/client-centred care.

Performance Requirements

RTs:

9

Work collaboratively with patients/clients, healthcare team members, and community partners to set goals, promote shared decision-making, and facilitate patient/client-centred care.

9

Communicate and interact with patients/clients, healthcare team members, and others in a manner that demonstrates respect, dignity, and appreciation of individual differences and opinions.

9

Refrain from maligning the reputation of any colleague.

9

Engage with other healthcare team members to seek information, clarify roles, and obtains their assistance when needed and provides assistance as required, to meet patient/client healthcare needs.

9

Educate patients/clients, healthcare team members, and others regarding the role of the RT.

Patient / Client Expected Outcome

Patients/clients can expect that RTs collaborate with other healthcare team members to promote safe, competent, ethical, and coordinated patient/client-centred care.

RELATED RESOURCES

Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists. (2008) Standards of Practice. Available at http://www.csrt.com/standards-of-practice/
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2015). Respiratory Therapists Providing Education. Professional Practice Guideline. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/PPG/MembersAsEducators.pdf
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2017). Working with Non-Regulated Health Care Providers (Website). Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/members/professional-practice/understanding-non-regulated-healthcare-providers-2/
Federation of Health Regulatory Colleges of Ontario. (2014). Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) eTool. Available at http://ipc.fhrco.org/
National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2016). National Competency Framework for the Profession of Respiratory Therapy. Part 1. National Standards for Entry-to-Practice. Available at: http://www.csrt.com/2016-national-competency-framework/

GLOSSARY

Collaborative practice refers to “the process of developing and maintaining effective interprofessional working relationships with learners, practitioners, patients/families, and communities to enable optimal health outcomes. Elements of collaboration include respect, trust, shared decision making, and partnerships.”[1]

Communicate refers to “give or exchange thoughts, feelings, information… by writing, speaking, etc.; to exchange thoughts, feelings, or information easily or effectively.”[2] Implies two-way communication between the speaker and recipient involving active listening and reception.

Community partners includes but is not limited to regional, local, and community health, academic, and social organizations which may directly or indirectly support patient/client care.

Competent refers to “having the requisite knowledge, skills and judgment/abilities to perform safely, effectively and ethically and applying that knowledge, skills and judgment/abilities to ensure safe, effective and ethical outcomes for the patient/client.”[3]

Healthcare team refers to “peers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals (regulated and non-regulated)”.[4]

Patient/client refers to individuals and their families requiring care or services. This may also include his/her substitute decision-maker or guardian.[5]