Accountability: the obligation to answer for a responsibility that has been conferred. “To be accountable implies a formal relationship and it also implies a prior act of delegation direct from one party to another.” (Manitoba Health. Achieving Accountability,, 1999.)

Board Of Directors (BOD): Previously known as the Advisory Council. The BOD serves to guide the vision of NaHSSA and consists of key leaders from NaHSSA’s local chapters as well as members of the Board of Directors. This body gives a strong voice to NaHSSA leaders from across the country in the operation of the association and provides a means for basic information exchange between its members. For information on BOD Guidelines: http://www.nahssa.ca/aboutus/whoweare/advisorycouncil

Clinical placement: a planned period of learning, normally outside the academic institution at which the health care student is enrolled, where the learning outcomes are an intended part of the program of study. This will enable the student to learn and develop the skills and required competencies to practice health care delivery. Interprofessional Care Steering Committee. (2007). Interprofessional Care: A Blueprint for Action in Ontario.

Collaboration: deals with the type of relationships and interactions that take place between coworkers. Teamwork is an application of collaboration. Effective health care teamwork applies to caregivers who practice collaboration within their work settings. D’amour, D., Ferrada-Videla, M., San Martin Rodriguez, L., et al. The conceptual basis for interprofessional collaboration: core concepts and theoretical frameworks. Journal of Interprofessional Care 2005; 19 (suppl 1):116-131.

Collaborative patient centered practice: promotes the active participation of each health care discipline in patient care. It enhances patient and family centered goals and values, provides mechanisms for continuous communication among caregivers, optimizes staff participation in clinical decision-making within and across disciplines and fosters respect for disciplinary contributions made by all professionals. 2003 First Ministers’ Accord on Health Care Renewal. Health Canada website. Available at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hcs-sss/delivery-prestation/fptcollab/2003accord/index-eng.php. Accessed July 23rd 2009.

Executive: Previously known as the Board of Directors. NaHSSA is led by a national Executive that is elected at the Annual General Meeting. The Executive is involved in the direct day-to-day running of NaHSSA and holds bimonthly meetings via teleconference to complement their daily email correspondences. This team is directly involved in the organization and delegation of many new initiatives that are developed during their term in office. Learn more and view this year’s Executive: http://www.nahssa.ca/aboutus/whoweare/boardofdirectors

Interdisciplinary: Two or more disciplines work or learn together to solve a problem or gather information. For example, medicine, pharmacy and law have to work together if a new drug is being tested for the market. (CIHC 2009).

Interprofessional care: the provision of comprehensive health service to patients by multiple health caregivers who work collaboratively to deliver quality care within and across settings. Interprofessional Care Steering Committee. (2007). Interprofessional Care: A Blueprint for Action in Ontario.

Interprofessional collaborative practice: is centered on the needs of clients; enabling them to be partners in their care, with the most appropriate health professionals providing the services required to meet their healthcare needs (Health Canada, 2005)

Interprofessional education: Occurs when two or more professions learn with, from and about each other to improve collaboration and the quality of care (CAIPE 2002).

IPE mentorship award: An award that recognizes the tireless encouragement, support, insight, and energies that have been instrumental to students and their work in IPE. For more information: http://www.nahssa.ca/getinvolved/opportunities/2009mentorship

Knowledge exchange: involves collaboration between researchers and decision makers, supporting an evidence-based model of decision-making.

NaHSSA: The National Health Sciences Students’ Association. See: http://www.nahssa.ca/aboutus for more information.

Partner: NaHSSA partners with various agencies and organizations at local, national, and international levels. In collaboration with NaHSSA, these partners aim to develop leadership opportunities in interprofessional education and practice. For a list of our partners: http://www.nahssa.ca/ourpartners

Scope of practice: A profession’s scope of practice encompasses the activities its practitioners are educated and authorized to perform. (CNA 2009)

Socialdemics: involving both social and academic components in events and initiatives. Social-demic events, such as the Health Care Team Challenge™, will provide a unique vehicle for students to socialize and learn simultaneously. 

Task force: student-led group focused on priorities as determined by NaHSSA Chapters/Members. Currently NaHSSA has a task force for the Student-to-Clinician Transition. For more information: http://www.nahssa.ca/getinvolved/opportunities

Team: a collection of individuals who work interdependently, share responsibility for outcomes, and see themselves and are seen by others as an intact social entity embedded in on or more larger social systems (e.g. corporation). Interprofessional Care Steering Committee. (2007). Interprofessional Care: A Blueprint for Action in Ontario.

Teleconference: to hold a meeting by means of a telephone or network connection. Similar to three-way calling but with more participants.