Interprofessional collaborative decision making in integrated unscheduled care navigation hubs

Background: Ambulance services in England are encouraged to provide remote senior clinical decision-making support to reduce avoidable conveyance to emergency departments and promote appropriate community-based care. South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust expanded this model to include emergency department and community clinicians through an integrated unscheduled care navigation hub. Aims: To explore the dynamics of interprofessional collaborative decision making within an integrated unscheduled care navigation hub. Methods: An 8-hour observational study was conducted during the fourth month of the hub's trial. Interprofessional interactions were examined using a framework encompassing relational, processual, organisational and contextual factors influencing teamwork. Results: The navigation hub team demonstrated core competencies for effective interprofessional collaboration, and successfully influenced care provision across urgent and emergency care pathways. Conclusions: Interprofessional collaboration within the unscheduled care navigation hub supported effective team working and integrated decision making across care settings. Implications for practice: Unscheduled care navigation hubs support integrated and coordinated care delivery.