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1. Begin with the end in mind. – Dr. Stephen R. Covey¹
   • Seek first to understand the needs and priorities of the team and its patients.^2,3,4,5
   • Begin the conversation by asking "What barriers do you face in providing the highest quality care possible, and how can I help you (re)solve them?" instead of “My area of expertise is [xyz], therefore this is how I can help you.”
   • Don’t assume that the team is well versed in how a pharmacist could complement their work in caring for patients at the point of therapeutic decision-making (i.e., don’t be surprised – or offended – that the concept of a pharmacist serving in a direct patient care role is unfamiliar to them)… your value will reveal itself in time, once you have helped to (re)solve top-of-line issues they and their patients are facing.

2. Prioritize and evaluate.
   • “Nothing happens without focus. Don't try to do everything at once. Take it one step at a time.” – Dave Ramsey
   • Brainstorm big, but then prioritize to determine where your time and effort makes the most sense right now. Consider use of prioritizing tools such as the Eisenhower box⁶, Warren Buffet strategy⁷, or ABCDE⁷
   • Approach new collaborations/offerings initially as pilot projects with defined timelines for evaluation and reassessment. Use the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process as a framework.⁸

3. Establish rapport and gain credibility.
   • Cultivating strong relationships with your team is the keystone for success.
   • Rapport is defined as a close and harmonious relationship in which people understand each other’s feelings or ideas and communicate well. This can be achieved by knowing your key stakeholders (e.g., providers, patients) well and agreeing on the pharmacist's role upfront.
   • Credibility is the quality of being trusted and believed in. In practical terms this is referred to as receiving the benefit of the doubt. The surest ways to gain credibility are being accountable, timely, reliable, and professional.
   • When barriers, differences of opinion, and/or conflict arise, be the first person to address the concern. Approach these conversations with humility, an open-mind, and a willingness to listen.⁹
   • Remember, your credibility is earned by how you react when faced with challenges. Think of this as the “silver lining” to confronting errors/mishaps/unanticipated outcomes.

4. Work towards collaborative practice agreements.
   • Once you have identified a clear role and valued service/offering, work towards creation of a collaborative practice agreement to increase the efficiencies of team-based care and formalize relationships.^10,11,12,13

"Opportunity is often missed because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work" - Thomas A. Edison  

"Anything in life worth having is worth working for." - Andrew Carnegie

References and Resources

1. Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind (franklincovey.com)
2. Jorgenson D, Dalton D, Farrell B et al. Guidelines for pharmacists integrating into primary care teams. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2013;146(6):342-52. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24228050/
3. Barry A, Pammett RT. Applying the guidelines for pharmacists integrating into primary care teams. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2016;149(4):219-25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27540404/
4. National Academies of Practice – Transforming Interprofessional Healthcare
5. Toward interdisciplinary team development: a policy paper on the National Academies of Practice. https://nap.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/1%20policy%20paper.pdf
6. How to be More Productive by Using t he “Eisenhower Box” (jamesclear.com)
7. 9 Excellent Methods to Prioritize Your Work - nTask (ntaskmanager.com)
8. The Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process (jcpp.net)
9. 7 Principles for difficult conversations
10. Collaborative Practice Agreements (cdc.gov)
11. Collaborative practice agreements to enable collaborative drug therapy management. https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/pubs/docs/Best_Practice_Guide_CDTM_508.pdf
12. Advancing team-based care through collaborative practice agreements. https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/pubs/docs/cpa-team-based-care.pdf
13. Collaborative practice agreements and pharmacists’ patient care services. https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/pubs/docs/Translational_Tools_Pharmacists.pdf

*This blog is part two of a three-part series on interprofessional collaboration.