"Acute caring" in the emergency department

The aim of this essay was to discuss the ways in which the dynamics of interprofessional communication and collaboration among healthcare providers ultimately affect patient quality of care in the acute setting. Interprofessionalism describes a care model whereby health providers use complementary skills, knowledge and competencies to provide quality care to a group of patients. These interactions are characterized by trust, respect and an understanding of each other's skill and knowledge. At its best, the interprofessional care model has made great strides in the amelioration of patient outcomes, including reduction in negative outcomes, decreased health access needs and increased patient satisfaction. However, challenges with regard to communication and implementation have translated to a steep learning curve for healthcare providers. As such, a new-found emphasis has been placed on interprofessional education for today's healthcare students with the goal of promoting a more efficient and collaborative philosophy for tomorrow's healthcare teams.