Learning in healthcare virtual communities of practice; let’s rethink how we connect and grow

Abstract

Being both a healthcare worker and a healthcare educator can sometimes be a lonely endeavour and opportunities to improve our craft may not be accessible. Medical education courses and conferences abound, often at high price points and in locations a long way from home. Healthcare virtual communities of practice (HvCoP) offer readily accessible information, connection and community, and opportunities for growth on our most ubiquitous accessory – our phone. How can we as a thoughtful, concerned, healthcare community improve accessibility and provide sustainability for our friends and colleagues to the latest literature, most recent practices, evidence-informed materials and provide a truly supportive and evolving environment where we all feel safe to share and connect? This essay started as a first-person reflection of one clinician’s journey (BS), including the highlights, and challenges in developing and sustaining HvCoPs and was then guided and edited by the second author (KW’s) reflections, who has co-facilitated several HvCoPs abroad. Within this essay, BS’ original, personal reflections are signalled in italics, whereas standard text indicates the joint reflections of both authors.