Remember that having a common purpose (why you're doing this) helps to overcome the barriers to collaboration.

How do you know when you are engaged in effective collaboration?

Providers engaged in effective collaboration demonstrate performance of the essential elements by:

• Planning together to make decisions about the care of patients (coordination)
• Communicating openly as decisions are made (communication)
• Sharing responsibility for decisions made (autonomy/responsibility)
• Co-operating in making decisions (cooperation)
• Considering all providers’ concerns (assertiveness)
• Demonstrating trust in one another’s decision-making ability
• Respecting one another’s knowledge and skills
• Perceiving themselves as fully collaborating.

If you have questions, comments or feedback, please refer these inquiries to: