What is collaborative practice and why is it important in palliative care?

Collaborative practice in palliative care is well established and continues to develop in response to the health care environment. It can be viewed as a form of interprofessional practice, with which it shares many key characteristics. Collaborative practice works well when care is patient- and family-centred, and communication is open and effective. Activity should be well organised and coordinated, with clarity of purpose, shared values, and well-defined roles and responsibilities, and services should be integrated as far as possible for maximum efficiency. Education is an essential feature of palliative care practice and interprofessional collaboration. It is important to remember that different levels of interprofessional involvement, e.g. teamwork or networking, will suit different contexts and situations, and mutual respect is central to collaboration.