Which IPEC core competency involves maintaining a climate of mutual respect and placing the patient's interests at the center of care?

• A. Values & Ethics
• B. Roles & Responsibilities
• C. Interprofessional Communication
• D. Teams & Teamwork

Answer: (A)

Maintaining a climate of mutual respect and placing the patient’s interests at the center of care are behaviors that come from Values & Ethics for Interprofessional Practice. This domain centers on honoring patient autonomy, advocating for what benefits the patient, and upholding ethical principles (like beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice) across all team members. It also encompasses reflecting on one’s own values, addressing conflicts respectfully, and ensuring decisions are guided by what is best for the patient. When the team works with genuine respect and keeps the patient’s needs and preferences at the forefront, care is more collaborative, ethical, and patient-centered.

The other options are important for teamwork, but they address different aspects: understanding each professional’s role, communicating effectively, and functioning well as a team. They don’t explicitly capture the ethical climate and the patient-centered advocacy that Values & Ethics emphasizes.