A New Era Of
Relationship-Based Care®
More than 20 years ago, Creative Health Care Management introduced Relationship-Based Care® (RBC).
At its heart, Relationship-Based Care® positioned three relationships, beginning with self, then moving to colleagues, and ending with patients and families, as the foundation for healing and excellence. The three sacred relationships are central to healing, helping team members across the care continuum reconnect with meaning, purpose, and the humanity of their work.
Since its introduction, RBC has been widely adopted around the world, improving patient safety, quality of care, and the lived experience of both patients and caregivers. Over time in the ever-changing healthcare landscape, the model has naturally evolved, giving rise to the Interprofessional Relational Model™ (IRM).
The Interprofessional Relational Model™ (IRM): Expanding the Vision
The Interprofessional Relational Model™ (IRM) honors the core values of Relationship-Based Care® while expanding upon them and recognizing that relational care is not the sole responsibility of nurses or any single discipline. Instead, Relationship-Based Care is a shared commitment across all roles in healthcare— from point-of-care and point-of-service professionals to environmental services staff, therapists to executives, and community partners.
With the introduction of IRM comes an expansion of the key relationships themselves. Community was recognized as an omnipresent relationship— one that surrounds, supports, and connects every level of the care environment.
Healing today is the work of many hands, hearts, and minds collaborating and communicating together.
"Essentials of a Caring Culture: The Interprofessional Relational Model™"
Essentials of a Caring Culture: The Interprofessional Relational Model™ introduces a groundbreaking evolution of Creative Health Care Management’s classic Relationship-Based Care® framework. Edited by Kathleen Van Wagoner and Christina Martin, this book honors the legacy of RBC while addressing the realities of today’s healthcare—where integrated teams, equity, and clinician well-being are more essential than ever. The Interprofessional Relational Model™ (IRM) expands the focus of relational practice beyond nursing to include every discipline and community partner contributing to health and healing. With practical tools, inspiring stories, and six core essentials for building healthy, collaborative cultures, this book offers a clear roadmap for organizations seeking to improve outcomes, strengthen teams, and create meaningful connections across all levels of care. More than a model, IRM is a call to reclaim dignity, purpose, and humanity in healthcare systems.
See the Next Evolution of Relationship-Based Care®
Advance your culture of connection, collaboration, and compassionate care.
Relationship-Based Care® in Practice Today
While many organizations are exploring the expanded Interprofessional Relational Model™, Relationship-Based Care® continues to provide meaningful tools and recognition for organizations committed to relational practice. CHCM continues to support organizations using these foundational RBC resources to strengthen culture, teamwork, and patient-centered care.
Relationship-Based Care® Designation
Building a truly Relationship-Based Care® culture takes passionate, focused work—and organizations that commit to this journey deserve meaningful recognition. That’s why Creative Health Care Management developed the Relationship-Based Care Designation, a formal validation of excellence in leadership, teamwork, professional practice, system design, and patient-centered care delivery. This four-year designation confirms that an organization has successfully woven the principles and values of Relationship-Based Care into their everyday relationships, structures, and processes— creating measurable improvements in both care quality and outcomes.
Commitment to my Co-workers
Teamwork requires people from all disciplines and departments to define and embrace a shared purpose and work together with trust and mutual respect. Consistent, visible teamwork is essential to the provision of high quality, safe care. Healthy team relationships are demonstrated by the behaviors described in the Commitment to My Co-workers statements. These common-sense agreements have been helping improve team relationships and employee engagement in organizations across the world since 1988.
The Commitment to My Co-Worker statements can be used for any sort of team-building discussions. They can also be used as agreements for council and committee meetings and as behavioral standards for employee performance reviews and developmental conversations.
Strengthen Relationships that Drive Exceptional Care.
