Initiatives

Collaborative Practice

In 2004, the provinces and the federal government of Canada committed to ensuring that 50% of Canadians have access to Interprofessional teams by 2011. Further, the Health Council of Canada reports that particular populations (such as those with chronic conditions) have better outcomes when they're attended to by a team and therefore may eventually need fewer medical appointments and other more expensive health services.

The Canadian Health Services Research Foundation in its 2006 work "Teamwork in Healthcare: promoting effective healthcare in Canada" identified a number of areas that government needs to assist in to improve the chances of successful collaborative practice. The impact of barriers to teamwork is aggravated by a shortage of healthcare providers and an absence of ongoing, adequate funding to support collaborative activities. There is also a critical need for decision makers to act as "leaders" in breaking down these barriers and developing the infrastructure required to support teamwork at the practice, organizational, and system levels."

The Primary Care Branch is working with partners with Manitoba Health and Healthy Living, along with other stakeholders to support the development of collaborative practice in Manitoba. Following the CHSRF recommendations, we will develop recommendations to address policy and system barriers to assist the transformation to team-based healthcare:

• consistent government policies and approaches;
• health human resource planning;
• egulatory/legislative frameworks; and
• models of funding and remuneration that encourage collaboration