Key Success Factors
and Pitfalls
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Primary Care Toolkit for Family Physicians
The College of Family Physicians of Canada
Legal Liabilities
Another essential element to examine carefully in the implementation of interdisciplinary collaborative teams is the sharing of legal liabilities in providing care. (See Appendix under the Governance module as well.) The potential legal liabilities, which may accrue to family physicians and to non-physician providers, should be clearly defined, particularly the degree of vicarious liability which may accrue to the family physicians themselves.
It is clear that liability can be a barrier to interdisciplinary collaboration. Whether potential or real, liability must be recognized as key driver in physician acceptance of risk and a key influencer of physician behaviour. It is recommended that family physicians should not agree to participate in teams where other members are either not insured or are insured with insufficient coverage. All members of an interdisciplinary collaborative team must be assured of sufficient liability insurance coverage for each other member as essential to ensure liability risks are appropriately addressed. (See Other Resources from the CMPA / CPNS response to professional collaboration.)