Leadership

Executive Training for Research Application (EXTRA)

Faith D. Boutcher

Extra Fellow, 2006: Faith D. Boutcher, RN, BN, MSc

Current position: Director, Professional Practice, Research & Education, North York General Hospital

Current job role:

• Creating and maintaining structures and processes to ensure quality, safe patient care in accordance with applicable regulatory and professional standards and federal and provincial legislation
• Creating an effective and supportive practice environment that promotes professional inquiry through research, education and evidence-based practice
• Co-leading the strategy for interprofessional education and care implementation
• Helping to provide strategic direction on the professional practice of all members of the health-care team except physicians

Intervention project: Integrating Health Professionals into Emerging Models of Interprofessional Care

The implementation of interprofessional collaborative practice requires commitment from an organization and its staff to develop the necessary organizational structures and provide professional development. To this end, professional practice leaders, acting as coaches, developed and delivered workshops to promote intra- and inter-professional collaboration to health professionals working in new models of care delivery at North York General Hospital. A pilot “scope of practice” workshop was used to provide baseline data on the clinical team’s readiness to engage in interprofessional learning.

The pilot workshop increased professionals’ positive attitudes toward team work and collaboration and provided a forum to bring health professionals together, to educate them about the principles of interprofessional collaboration and to increase understanding of professional roles among team members. The project provided a key learning: when an organization is implementing complex change initiatives, awareness and attitudes should be addressed before behaviour can be changed.

This intervention project supports the cultural change happening at the hospital. The organization’s focus on interprofessional collaboration, the strong professional culture and senior-level support are moving interprofessional care forward in the organization, preparing the practice environment for a new generation of health professionals.

EXTRA benefits:

Through EXTRA, I have been able to work with senior leaders with whom I do not normally have the opportunity to work. I now have better links with colleagues across Canada and I have had more internal and external networking opportunities. The intervention project also helped me develop stronger partnerships with the University of Toronto.

Most significant skills acquired through EXTRA:

The most significant skills gained were in the areas of change management, knowledge transfer and application of research to practice.