The family medicine reference clinic: an example of interprofessional collaboration within a healthcare team

Tonka Poplas Susič

doi:10.14528/snr.2017.51.2.179

Tonka Poplas Susič

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2017.51.2.179

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Abstract

Since being introduced in 2011, family medicine reference clinics (FMRCs) have created several advantages in the treatment of patients, but have also drawn attention to areas where improvements could be made (Poplas Susič, et al., 2013). Consistent with competencies and experts, each chronic patient care protocol as well as the prevention protocol strictly follows guidelines or recommendations that define diagnostic and treatment as well as education pathways for patient care in a family medicine practice. They are harmonised and agreed with experts at different levels of healthcare (primary, secondary and tertiary) (Vodopivec Jamšek, 2013).

Highlights

The division of labour among team members in line with the competencies of individual professions and their mutual collaboration (Poplas Susič, et al, 2013; Martínez-González, et al, 2014) are two key elements of patient treatment in family medicine reference clinics (FMRCs)
The Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia wanted such work to be carried out systematically and under supervision. This represented an innovation upon implementation since registered nurses in primary care did not receive additional training when starting to work in paediatric, school health or gynaecology clinics
Something unexpected happened: the modules could no longer be included for implementation in good time for several reasons: the large number of registered nurses entering the system at the point of implementing the new FMRCs, time limitations and the temporal and spatial coordination of lecturers

Summary

Introduction

The division of labour among team members in line with the competencies of individual professions and their mutual collaboration (Poplas Susič, et al, 2013; Martínez-González, et al, 2014) are two key elements of patient treatment in FMRCs. Work undertaken by registered nurses in FMRCs requires specific knowledge and skills.

Results

Conclusion