Interprofessional Collaboration in Practice
A patient presents with asthma during wildfire season. The care team uses real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) data to guide treatment and discharge planning.
What type of interprofessional collaboration is this?
Information sharing.
Takeaway: Effective climate-informed care depends on sharing environmental and contextual data, not just clinical information.
A city reduces heat-related illness by increasing tree cover and green spaces.
Which non-healthcare sector is primarily responsible for this intervention?
Urban planning/public policy/local government
Takeaway: Many drivers of climate-related health outcomes lie outside healthcare, underscoring the importance of cross-sector collaboration for mitigation.
Healthcare contributes approximately what percentage of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions?
8–10%
Takeaway: This shows that health professionals have a significant role in both mitigation and adaptation.
During a heat wave, a physician treats a patient for dehydration, while a social worker ensures the patient has access to safe housing and cooling.
What type of interprofessional collaboration is this?
Collegial cooperation
Takeaway: Climate-related health issues require coordination across care roles, not just isolated to physician care.
A clinic partners with a local food bank to address food insecurity worsened by climate-related crop disruptions.
What type of approach is this?
Transdisciplinary collaboration
Takeaway: Effective climate responses require partnerships beyond traditional healthcare roles.
What is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions within the healthcare sector?
The medical supply chain
Takeaway: Reducing emissions requires system-level partnerships, especially with procurement and suppliers.
A hospital team identifies repeated heat-related admissions and implements a new discharge protocol that includes housing and cooling assessments for all high-risk patients.
What type of interprofessional collaboration is this?
Collective action
Takeaway: Addressing climate-related health risks requires system-level change, not just individual interventions.
A public health department partners with city engineers to reduce flooding-related health risks by redesigning stormwater systems and expanding green infrastructure.
Which non-healthcare sector is primarily responsible for this intervention?
Civil/infrastructure engineering
Takeaway: Many climate-related health risks are shaped by the built environment, and addressing them requires engagement with specific non-health sectors, not just ‘healthcare plus others’ in general.
A hospital partners with community organizations and public health agencies to reduce emissions and improve climate resilience.
What type of strategy is this?
System-level partnership / collective action through partnerships
Takeaway: Meaningful climate action requires collaboration across institutions, communities, and policy spaces.