Interprofessional collaborative practice involves health care providers from different specialties working together beyond traditional referral models. 

"It's not just referring someone out and saying you're working with them, but actually working with those professions to bring the best outcome for the patient," says Amy Moy, OD, FAAO, CPCO, FNAP. 

Other fields, particularly in hospital and community health settings, already embrace this model, with professionals coordinating care plans and sharing patient management responsibilities, but optometry has some catching up to do, she says.