Recently, I had the honor and pleasure of introducing my book, Women and Cardiovascular Disease, in London. During the event, I was able to meet with many of my European colleagues from both the media as well as the health care space. I spoke with countless bright and motivated attendees who are excited to be part of a wave of change in cardiac care for women. We identified many ways in which we may be able to improve education and awareness of women and heart disease in Britain and throughout Europe. Even though the event lasted just a little more than two hours, we were able to brainstorm numerous ideas and made plans for future discourse.
As the evening’s discussions continued into the night, I once again realized just how much we have left to do in addressing gender disparities in care. It is not just a problem of a single country; it is truly a global issue. As such, it stands to reason that through collaboration and cooperation across oceans and among different nationalities, we can tap ideas and harness the potential of larger numbers of professionals with disparate academic and social backgrounds.
Historically, such efforts have been complex processes; culture, speed of communication, disparate technologies have all slowed the journey. Yet technology has substantially diminished these barriers, be it among individuals in different countries, hospitals, or practices. This got me thinking: What does it take to collaborate in health care? Here are three points that stood out to me.
1. Collaboration is a journey. Relationships develop over time. Some of the most important keys to success are communication, mutual respect, and compromise — as well as a commitment and a “buy in” from all invested parties. There are always initial periods of brainstorming and conversation that lead to even bigger ideas.
2. Collaboration may be best when spontaneous. Collaboration cannot be forced. We must learn to appreciate the talents of others and leverage those talents in a way that produces successful ideas. Working sessions followed by dinner or other gatherings in social settings often produce the most important breakthroughs. Amazing ideas commonly result when we least expect them.
3. Collaboration requires that we know ourselves and manage diversity effectively. Collaboration requires that we have cooperation both horizontally and vertically; there must be mutual respect while maintaining structure and leadership within the group. It’s a diversity of opinions that allows us to attack issues from unique angles, and the most important factor in producing measurable results for patients is the assimilation of ideas into a new and coherent way of thinking about common problems. It isn’t easy, but if we can achieve this – no matter the issue, group, or geography — we can and will elevate care, globally and right here at home. As technology continues to draw us closer, it is a goal whose impact and importance cannot be underestimated.
Kevin R. Campbell is a cardiac electrophysiologist who blogs at his self-titled site, Dr. Kevin R. Campbell, MD. He is the author of Women and Cardiovascular Disease. This article originally appeared in The Doctor Blog.
