Additional experts from outside the NAP were selected to assure a more inclusive perspective on the issues. The panel defined Interprofessional Health Care, developed the conceptual approach to the issue, and then developed position papers for review and comment by NAP members. The expert panel had a lengthy discussion about interdisciplinary versus interprofessional care. The panel members selected the term interprofessional for use with the consensus process. It was felt that interdisciplinary can be confusing because subspecialists within a professional discipline consider there collaborative practice to be interdisciplinary.
Interprofessional care is the new terminology used in the current literature.
Participants attending the Forum were given a charge to express their opinion regarding the draft position papers. In the end, help the NAP achieve consensus on future directions and activities, and on building relationships with other groups. The stated goal of this position paper is to promote implementation of cost-effective interprofessional health care practice that leads to better health outcomes. Increase opportunities for health professionals to make interprofessional referrals and to practice collaboratively. Advocate for changing legal and reimbursement policies to make interprofessional practice feasible and attractive to health professionals and health care administrators.