The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) considers communication as a core aspect of interprofessional collaborative practice. Interprofessional communication (IPC) in healthcare is the exchange of information, ideas, and perspectives among diverse professionals to provide coordinated, patient-centered care. Effective IPC is crucial for reducing medical errors, which often stem from poor communication during handovers, and for improving patient safety, team collaboration, and job satisfaction.

The purpose of this course is to introduce the roles, responsibilities, educational requirements, and scope of practice of health care practitioners. Collaborative care respects the individual expertise of each profession, and mutual respect and trust are critical components for effective interprofessional working relationships for delivering collaborative care across health professions. To make this a reality, health professions students will need to develop interprofessional competencies as part of the learning process, in order to be ready to practice effective teamwork and team-based care when they enter the workforce.