A leader in promoting collaborative health practice and interprofessional education, UBC Health has contributed to the development, evolution and implementation of interprofessional competency frameworks in Canada over the years.

The National Interprofessional Competency Framework, established by the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC) in 2010, made Canada a leader in adopting a framework of its kind. Before this national framework, in 2009, the UBC Health team, then operating as the College of Health Disciplines, created the BC Interprofessional Competency Framework the national framework, with UBC faculty actively involved in its development.  

For over 15 years, UBC has been dedicated to creating interprofessional learning opportunities that build on the competencies outlined in these frameworks. Today’s UBC Health initiatives help equip students from UBC’s 14+ health professional programs with the skills and knowledge needed for effective interprofessional collaborative, team-based care. Learn more about UBC Health’s Collaborative Health Education initiatives.

Dr. John Gilbert, Founding Chair of the CIHC said, “With the growing demands on the health and social care systems, the CIHC framework is a significant and important tool for ensuring that we continue to move towards an interprofessional collaborative and team-based approach to health and social care. The CIHC is grateful for UBC Health’s longstanding contributions and active involvement in the development and implementation of this interprofessional framework.”  

Refreshing the National Framework

Over the last eighteen months, Carrie Krekoski, Assistant Director of Education at UBC Health and a long-standing member of the CIHC, led a working group to refresh the National Framework: CIHC Competency Framework for Advancing Collaboration, made available in April 2024.  

As part of this project, the working group looked at the previous framework, and noted its widespread use globally across educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and diverse entities pursuing health policy work and research. Given that many countries were reviewing their national interprofessional frameworks simultaneously, the CIHC’s working group had the opportunity to collaborate with interprofessional health leaders from the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia.   

The CIHC working group aimed to enhance the framework’s relevance and applicability in Canada’s current collaborative practice landscape, emphasizing not just theoretical knowledge but the practical application of skills, attitudes, and behaviors in various real-world settings. “Healthcare dialogue and practice have changed since the previous iteration of the framework in 2010. The working group looked at both the new literature, as well as values such as cultural safety and humility, team-based care, equity, diversity, inclusion and access to care that are emerging as priorities. Much collaboration went into this 18-month long project to make the framework more practical for the transformed landscape of the Canadian health system,” said Krekoski, who also thanked UBC Health for allowing her the time and flexibility to function in the demanding role of the Chair of the working group responsible for refreshing the framework.

The updated framework remains a crucial foundation for preparing learners and practitioners for collaborative healthcare practices across Canada and globally.

Shaping the Future of Health Education

UBC Health continues to integrate the framework into its educational strategies, ensuring that future health professionals are well-prepared for the evolving demands of team-based care. The unit’s efforts are focused on transforming teaching and learning across the 14 health programs at UBC, in both academic and clinical environments, to support effective, collaborative practices. UBC Health's ongoing commitment ensures that health professional students at UBC are team-ready and equipped with the necessary skills to provide safe, effective, relationship-focused care.

References:

Bainbridge, L., Nasmith, L., Orchard, C., & Wood, V. (2010). Competencies for interprofessional collaboration. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 24(1), 6-11.

Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative. (2024). CIHC Competency Framework for Advancing Collaboration 2024. www.cihc-cpis.com

Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative. (2010) A National Interprofessional Competency Framework.

Wood, V., Flavell, A., Vanstolk, D., Bainbridge, L., & Nasmith, L. (2009). The road to collaboration: Developing an interprofessional competency framework. Journal of interprofessional care, 23(6), 621-629.