Leveraging Patient Trust and Psychological Safety in an Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Clinic - Buprenorphine Clinic

This workshop discusses how a team-based care model focuses on patients with substance use disorders (SUD). The Buprenorphine Clinic provides assessment and care for patients through an interprofessional education and collaborative practice approach (Heinemann & Zeiss, 2021) delivered by providers and learners from five professions: chaplaincy, medicine, nursing, peer recovery, and social work.

The model emphasizes building patient-provider trust throughout individuals’ recovery in a safe space. The Buprenorphine Clinic is housed the IU Health Primary Care - Indianapolis clinic for patients to develop trust with practitioners and meet their primary care needs.

The unique topic in this workshop is how the chaplain and peer recovery coach serve vital roles in leveraging patients' trust to enhance holistic care (Doran, Rappaport, & Alexander, 2022). Building patient’s trust is a key element for patients to continue care through the Buprenorphine Clinic especially during difficult times in their recovery journey. The uniqueness of having a chaplain and peer recovery coach on the team is to bridge communication by often being an intermediary, clarifying medical information in a compassionate manner, and enhancing patient understanding and trust in their care.

Also central to the Buprenorphine Clinic model is the concept of psychological safety – the belief that anyone can voice ideas, pose questions and concerns, or miscommunicate without fear of repercussions in a non-judgmental and respective environment (Edmondson, A., 2024).