Collaborative Care in Medicine
Terry Stewart
Collaborative care in medicine and health is an integrated approach where healthcare professionals from various disciplines work together to provide comprehensive, patient-centred support. This model emphasises coordinated communication, shared decision-making, and teamwork among providers such as allied health professionals, doctors, nurses, mental health specialists, and other healthcare practitioners. The goal is to improve health outcomes, enhance the patient experience, and ensure holistic treatment that addresses multiple aspects of a patient’s physical, psychological, and social needs.
As a practitioner working in the persistent pain field, I recognise the importance of consistent communication and messaging between the healthcare team and the patient. This approach helps reduce confusion, delivers clearer information, and minimises fear caused by conflicting messages – all of which promote better patient understanding and outcomes.
Individuals living with persistent or acute pain have unique life stories and experiences, which can significantly impact their daily challenges. Recognising these early during history-taking and treatment is essential for understanding the full impact of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of their condition.
Multidisciplinary care involves multiple modalities working in patient care, but without consistent communication. In contrast, interdisciplinary care involves collaborative, well-communicated teamwork with a unified message. The interdisciplinary approach is likely to achieve the best outcomes due to its emphasis on clear communication and coordinated efforts.
Which approach do you think leads to better care? If you’re curious about how EPS puts interdisciplinary care into practice, get in touch — we’d love to hear from you!
