Learning from the CEP team

Over the last three months, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know and work with the incredible people who keep CEP running. 

In my first few days, I was introduced to the different projects they run to translate best evidence into practice and develop healthcare solutions for local contexts. During these initial meetings, I learned how CEP has evolved since it was established in 2004. From developing clinical tools to piloting academic detailing in Ontario, they’ve explored different ways to meet the needs and challenges of primary care providers. 

To achieve these goals, CEP has quite a range of projects and staff who bring different skills and experiences to the table. As a student providing project support to the external relations team, I’ve asked pretty much everyone for help with something at some point, and I’ve seen how all the different skillsets, from knowledge translation to clinical practice to health administration, come together. 

This interdisciplinary coordination has been interesting to think about in relation to Ontario’s recent transitions towards interprofessional team-based care. As everyone’s been thinking about how to support providers in integrated models, I wondered exactly how CEP has succeeded in orchestrating and continually re-imagining internal and external collaboration. 

Aside from picking up numerous healthcare sector acronyms, my 14 weeks with the CEP team has taught me some invaluable lessons. Throughout changes in the healthcare system, CEP continues to try and understand the needs of providers. Based on my experience and observations, the following are some of the qualities that facilitate CEP’s sustained ability to facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration and evolve their services.

1. Development and continual learning. While CEP encourages and provides continuing medical education for healthcare professionals, the staff themselves are equally committed to ongoing professional development. Whether it’s the project coordinators, managers, academic detailers, clinicians or librarians, they actively pursue different forms of training and upskilling to remain up-to-date and improve.
2. Creative and innovative thinking. With a changing health system and new opportunities posed by advancements in digital health, CEP adopts unique, flexible and user-centered approaches to ensure their tools and services continue to bring value to providers.  They actively seek new partnerships with different organizations and groups to develop and implement new services and resources that impact care.
3. Communication and team work. Just as CEP supports clinicians practicing in team-based care models, the staff work as an integrated team blending different strengths and skillsets into a coordinated approach.
   

The CEP team is always learning and evolving their resources and services to address gaps in healthcare research and practice. Follow @CEPHealth on Twitter or sign up for the mailing list to stay up to date and learn more.