The National Academies of Practice (NAP) recognizes the importance of a shared language in advancing interprofessional collaboration. As NAP continues to grow, the need for consistent and accurate terminology becomes increasingly critical. The NAP Lexicon provides a common framework for understanding and using key terms within the organization and beyond. 

The NAP Lexicon is intended to be an iterative document that is reviewed and refined systematically to add clarity over time. The first lexicon was approved by NAP Council in May 2020 for purposes of providing a NAP-specific lexicon to describe the terminology used across and within the organization. In October 2022, the original lexicon was updated to Lexicon 2.0. 

This third iteration of the lexicon, Lexicon 3.0, builds upon previous versions, incorporating feedback from diverse stakeholders and aligning with NAP's core value of inclusivity. Each section, category, term, and definition within Lexicon 3.0 were critically appraised, supported by evidence, informed by stakeholders, and applied directly to NAP’s work for advancing education, scholarship, research, practice, and public policy. By providing definitions for terms such as "interdisciplinary," "multidisciplinary," "transdisciplinary," "patient," "client," and "person," the lexicon promotes a shared understanding of these concepts. 

This document begins with an alphabetical list of all terms included, but it is primarily organized using concepts from the previous iterations: The Work, The Process, and The People of IPECP. New to Lexicon 3.0 is the inclusion of NAP’s Vision as its own section for defining key terms within the vision statement. Readers should appreciate that sections, categories, and terms in this lexicon are NOT mutually exclusive and may easily apply to other content within this lexicon, depending on use and/or context.

Guided by NAP’s vision, mission, values, and purpose, Lexicon 3.0 is intended for use by NAP members for official NAP communications, strategic planning, committee/task force, and shared workgroup products. Please note: Individuals who are 1) not members of NAP or 2) are members of NAP working on projects separate from this organization, must keep this intended use in mind if using content from this lexicon when applied to their work.