There is no better tool for growing your Nurse-based business than interprofessional collaboration. We all know that client referrals are the bread and butter of business. However, in a sustainable business model we need to sometimes outsource those referrals. This is where interprofessional collaborations can help to bring in new and consistent business.
So, what is Inter-professional Collaboration?
It is a referral-based partnership between professionals within similar but different scope of practice. For example, a Nurse Coach might choose to have a partnership with an acupuncturist. They have similar clientele but different mechanisms of practice. Some other examples of professions that could be good for a Nurse Coach interprofessional collaboration could be: Naturopathic Doctors, Functional Medicine Doctors, Nutritionists, Chiropractors, Massage therapists, Homeopaths, Hypnotists, Reiki Practitioners, Yoga Teachers, Holistic Psychologist or Dentists, Vitamin IV Therapy or Wellness Centers with healing modalities. It is important to know your practice limitations and partner with the correct type of practitioners to ensure no overlap in services.
A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement
This interprofessional collaboration can be mutually beneficial to both business entities. As both practitioners can create referrals for one another. It is important in all referral-based collaborations that you have used these services personally and can attest to their superiority. This may mean that you have been a client of theirs for many years or that you have created a new partnership to try out each other’s services for free prior to giving referrals. If all goes well, you have a partnership that will create an ongoing stream of referrals for both parties.
Interprofessional Collaboration Improves Patient Outcomes
Interprofessional collaboration can also improve your patient’s healthcare outcomes. As referenced in the research study, “Interprofessional collaboration to improve professional practice and healthcare outcomes” by Reeves, Palone, Harrison, Goldman, Zwarenstein. The study follows two populations of patients, one that used interprofessional collaboration and one who did not. The outcomes were vastly different and the population of patients who utilized interprofessional collaboration ultimately has better healthcare outcomes.
Thus, interprofessional collaboration is not only good for your business but it’s good for your patient outcomes as well!
Sharing Space and Cost
Another option for interprofessional collaboration, would be a join a “wellness center” with a physical space and other like-minded practitioners. While there are many challenges to having a individual physical space, sharing this space can be more cost effective and open up new possibilities for interprofessional collaborations. A shared physical space is wonderful way to see clients in-person, while having free advertising to potential clients who are already looking for holistic modalities similar to yours.
Room sharing or pay by the hour rates also give you the opportunity to have a physical practice that is affordable and scalable as your business grows. You can also use this physical space to host events or classes with your office mates to advertise and bring awareness to your personal business and specialty. The possibilities are endless, while the drawbacks and cost of having a physical space are greatly reduced. Thus, making a shared space the superior alternative to individual private practice.
How does interprofessional collaboration work in my personal practice?
I am a Functional Medicine Nurse Coach and Founder of Practical Medicine LLC, with two physical office spaces in additional to a virtual practice. I have an office share in a Chiropractor’s office, sharing the room with the Naturopath, Acupuncturist, and Thermographer. We each have chosen days and hours to avoid scheduling issues and work together to organically pass along referrals. I also have an office space in a Wellness Center that I have been a member of for many years.
It works very well because they refer to me for my services and I refer my clients to their services, that I have been using for years and personally love. I think the most important part of interprofessional collaborations is that they are real and organic in nature. Meaning I wouldn’t refer a client to someone or something I wouldn’t personally use myself. This only builds further trust in your brand and as well as your collaborating brand partners.
Special Note from the Author:
Thank you for reading and I hope this information helps your Nurse Coaching practice grow and thrive! I am passionate about helping Nurses find their calling and moonlight as an Admissions Specialist with the Integrative Nurse Coaching Academy.
If you have more questions about the path I took to open my own practice or any of the courses offered at INCA, schedule a free 15-minute admissions call with me here.
Lauren Briggs, RN, BSN, HWNC-BC, HN-BC is the Founder of Practical Medicine, LLC located in Stamford, CT. ‘Nurse Lauren’ has been practicing nursing for over 13 years in New York and Connecticut. She worked in a variety of healthcare settings, including allopathic and emergency medicine, which helped lead her to holistic medicine. She has worked in Functional and Integrative Medicine exclusively for the past 7 years and she is a Board-Certified Health and Wellness Nurse Coach with INCA/AHNCC and has a Certificate in Functional Medicine for Nurses through INCA/IFM.
Nurse Lauren specializes in gut health, hormones and migraines and is passionate about nutrition and living an organic healthy lifestyle. She is also a homeschool mom of two boys and coordinator for the Stamford CSA program for a local organic farm. If you would like more information on Practical Medicine LLC, please visit her website: Practical Medicine or follow her on Instagram @practicalmedicinellc
