CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES OF PARTNERSHIP, COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK

• COLLABORATIVE HEALTH CARE

A comprehensive care provided to the clients through the collaborative efforts and expertise of each member of the
health team.
• PARTNERSHIP
A collaborative relationship between two or more parties based on trust, equality, and mutual understanding for the
achievement of a specified goal
• TWINNING
- Coined by the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET)
- "the establishment of a formal link between a specified department or institution and a corresponding department/
institution to facilitate an accurate assessment of need and consequently to ensure effective mutual collaboration at all
levels."
• COLLABORATION – As defined by ANA (1992), refers to the collegial working relationship with another
health care provider in the provision of patient care.

Figure 2. Members of the health care team individualize care for the client based on the expertise of their own discipline, though there may be areas of
overlapping, these can be eased through collaboration and teamwork. (Adapted from Kozier & Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing, 10 th edition)

• TEAMWORK - is when two or more people are interacting interdependently with a common purpose, working
toward measurable goals that benefit from leadership that maintains stability while encouraging honest discussion and
problem solving.

Common Principles Related to Partnership, Collaboration, Teamwork

 Effective Communication
Involves commitment of both parties to meet regularly, understand each other’s professional roles and appreciating
each other as individuals, sensitivity to differences in their communication styles yet being focused on a common
ground: the client’s needs
 Clear Roles and Expectations
Must be related to team member’s functions, responsibilities, and accountabilities, thus optimizing the team’s
efficiency through division of labor.
 Mutual Respect and Trust
Mutual respect when two or more people show or feel honor or esteem toward one another.
Trust is confidence in the actions of another person which must expressed verbally and non- verbally.
Can be attained through openness and honesty.
 Shared Goals
There must be a clear purpose that are mutually agreed upon by the group, which should reflect patient and family
priorities, and can be clearly articulated, understood, and supported by all team members.
 Measurable Processes and Outcomes
These include the protocols and procedures necessary for orderly and systematic delivery of care thus,
providing a means for reliable and timely feedback on successes and failures in both the functioning of the team and
achievement of the team’s goals.
 Decision Making
Involves shared responsibility of the team for the outcome. An important aspect is for the interdisciplinary team to
focus on the client’s priority needs and organizing interventions accordingly.

Key Areas of Responsibility for BSN Graduates (CHED Memo. No. 5, Series of 2008)
Nurses also play the role of collaborators, them being part of the health care team. Therefore, the must develop this
competency as they assume their professional practice. The importance of the concepts of collaboration and teamwork
had been given emphasis with their inclusion in the Key Areas of Responsibility for BSN graduates (CHED Memo.
No. 5, Series of 2008) with the corresponding core competencies that every nurse should demonstrate.

 Collaboration and Teamwork

Core Competency:
• Establishes collaborative relationship with colleagues and other members of the health team.
• Collaborates plan of care with other members of the health team

Program Outcomes for BSN Graduates (CHED Memo. No. 15, Series of 2017):
 PROGRAM OUTCOMES
• Collaborate effectively with inter-, intra-, and multi- disciplinary and multi-cultural teams
 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
• Ensure intra- agency, inter-agency, multi-disciplinary and sectoral collaboration in the delivery of health care
• Implement strategies, approaches to enhance/support the capability of client/care providers to participate in
decision making by the inter-professional team
 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
• Maintain a harmonious and collegial relationship among members of the health team for effective, efficient, and
safe client care
• Coordinate the tasks/ functions of other nursing personnel (midwife, BHW and utility worker)
 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
• Collaborate with GOs, NGOs, and other socio-civic agencies to improve health care services, support
environment protection policies and strategies, and safety and security mechanisms in the community
 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
• Participate as a member of a quality team in implementing the appropriate quality improvement process on
identified improvement opportunities.