What is a Collaborative?
There is often confusion between the Collaborative method and collaboration in general. The Collaborative method has a specific approach, which is user-friendly and simple. A Collaborative is an improvement method that relies on the distribution and adaptation of existing knowledge to multiple settings, to achieve a common aim. For example, with the APCC Program, colleagues get together at a series of learning workshops. Participants exchange ideas, share experiences and learn about practical quality improvement skills, which can all be easily implemented using the successful Model for Improvement. Through shared learning, teams from a number of general practices work with each other and the Improvement Foundation to rapidly test and implement changes that lead to lasting improvement. To learn more about what’s involved with this collaborative see The Collaborative Program. The Collaborative methodology promotes rapid change, allowing practices to experience the benefits in short time
A Collaborative is an improvement method that relies on the adaptation of existing knowledge to multiple settings to achieve a common aim. It consists of a series of learning workshops interspersed with activity periods during which measures common to the participating practices are used to track progress. It is user friendly and simple approach is effective because of the support and framework, which allow for protected time for participants to spend together solving problems as a team. A Collaborative is not a research project, a set of conferences, or a passive exercise. It is about actually doing and improving.
