Making interprofessional education real: a university clinic model

Area of Science:

• Allied Health Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Clinical Practice Models

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is increasingly important for allied health students.
• Traditional IPE often occurs in simulated environments, not direct client care.
• There is a need for practical IPE experiences in real-world settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of university-led IPE clinics.
• To explore the use of an adapted Bronstein's model for interdisciplinary collaboration.
• To provide integrated services for children and young people through IPE.

Main Methods:

• Students from occupational therapy, speech pathology, and music therapy participated.
• Clinics were conducted on-campus and in the community by university staff.
• Bronstein's model guided team orientation, goal-setting, intervention planning, and therapy delivery.

Main Results:

• IPE clinics successfully integrated student learning with client service provision.
• The adapted Bronstein's model facilitated collaborative processes.
• The study identified challenges in implementing clinical IPE within a university context.

Conclusions:

• University-led IPE clinics offer a viable model for practical interprofessional learning.
• Clinical IPE can effectively provide integrated services to community populations.
• Addressing challenges is crucial for the successful expansion of clinical IPE programs.