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Table 1 Classification of Communities of Practice (CoPs) by membership boundaries

From: Communities of practice in Alberta Health Services: advancing a learning organisation

Membership boundary categories

CoPs in cohort (n = 28)

Basis of categories

Sample membership descriptions

Unrestricted

4

Members are part of the practice community based on subject-matter interest and/or expertise and may include non-AHS staff (i.e. not bound by role, geographic boundaries or confidentiality restrictions)

… open to anyone, we’re a very eclectic group … positions where people are directors, experts in change management, non-experts interested change management, and professional groups.”

Restricted by domain and role

10

Membership is characterised by being practice and role centred

… open to those in our [lead] roles to establish a network for best practices.”

Restricted by domain and geography

6

Membership associated with geographic boundaries (e.g. site, zone based) and role-based requirements

… open to all acute care, all direct service staff who have palliative care interactions with patients and families and aren’t specialized. It’s inter-professional and it’s specific to our site.”

Restricted by role and confidentiality

8

For privacy considerations, membership is strictly bounded by staff roles (e.g. associated with sharing identifiable patient information) or practice-specific patient information

… open only to those in our [particular] role as we discuss patient [related] information.”

  1. Note: Alberta Health Services integration defined five geographic ‘zones’ to distinguish service clusters in the context of Alberta’s expansive land base