Collaborator: Working Within and Across Teams
What the domain tests
The Collaborator domain evaluates how you work with colleagues, consultants, and interprofessional team members. Stations may involve a phone referral, a conflict with a nurse, or coordinating discharge planning. Examiners look for clear, respectful communication, defined roles, and shared goals.
Core concepts to master
- Referral communication: identify yourself and the patient, state the reason for referral concisely, provide relevant history, and make a specific request.
- SBAR framework: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. Use it for urgent calls and handovers.
- Role clarity: know what each team member contributes and avoid duplicating or abdicating tasks.
- Conflict resolution: separate the person from the problem, explore the other party's perspective, and seek a mutually acceptable solution.
- Closed-loop communication: confirm that instructions were received and understood.
- Handover safety: include allergies, code status, pending results, and contingency plans.
Common traps
- Vague referrals ("Please see and advise") without a clear clinical question.
- Talking down to or over other professionals; disrespect is heavily penalized.
- Assuming a message was received without confirmation.
- Failing to document or escalate when a concern is dismissed.
- Losing the patient's voice when making team decisions.
Worked rule of thumb
Use SBAR plus one explicit ask. For example: "Situation: Mr. Lee has new confusion. Background: he started antibiotics yesterday. Assessment: I suspect delirium, possibly drug-related. Recommendation: could you review his medications and call me back within the hour?" Then close the loop by repeating back the agreed plan.
Exam craft
When a station involves a disagreement, demonstrate curiosity about the other person's reasoning before advocating your own view. Collaboration marks come from how you handle friction, not just from clinical content.