Collaboratives
What is a Collaborative?
There is often confusion between the Collaborative method and collaboration in general. The Collaborative method has a specific approach, which is user friendly and simple. A Collaborative is an improvement method that relies on the distribution and adaptation of existing knowledge to multiple settings to achieve a common aim.
The Collaborative methodology promotes rapid change, allowing practices to experience the benefits in short time frames. The Collaborative methodology works because it is straightforward, there is hands-on support, and the framework promotes protected time for participants to spend together solving problems as a team.
Healthcare Collaboratives are built on a tried and tested method, developed in the USA and has been adopted in other countries, most recently and effectively through the National Primary Care Development Team in the UK.
Link: http://www.apcc.org.au/
Benefits of Using the Collaborative Methodology
- The collaborative methodology uses knowledge about what already works rather than trying out new ideas through research or pilot studies.
- It uses a change management method that is designed to identify where a change actually leads to an improvement.
- Changes are tested in small cycles so they are manageable
- Changes are measured so that the improvement can be demonstrated.
Benefits to Practices
- Improved health outcomes for patients with chronic diseases
- Doctors running on time
- Accurate and up-to-date patient registers
- Improved team based culture within the practice
- Doctors being available at short notice
- Patients receiving best standard of care possible
- Improved GP and staff morale.
The Program’s quality improvement methods and skills have already been tried and tested in over 800 Australian general practices, so you can be sure they work.
Getting Involved
To find out how you can get involved in the Collaboratives program, please contact:
Trudy Ballinger
Program Manager – Practice Support
Email Trudy
Phone: 07 3274 1886