Interprofessional teamwork: an immersive experience in the Dominican Republic

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Medical Education
• Interprofessional Practice

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) aims to enhance collaboration among health profession students.
• Effective teamwork is crucial for delivering quality patient care, especially in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an interprofessional educational experience in the Dominican Republic involving nursing and medical students.
• To evaluate the impact of teamwork and shared learning on patient care delivery in an underserved area.

Main Methods:

• A group of nursing and medical students participated in a medical mission to impoverished areas of the Dominican Republic.
• The team provided patient care, focusing on collaboration and utilizing knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) to manage a high patient volume.
• Qualitative observations of teamwork, conflict resolution, and problem-solving were utilized.

Main Results:

• The interprofessional team successfully provided care to over 800 patients in a 6-day period.
• Students demonstrated enhanced teamwork, shared learning, and effective conflict resolution skills.
• The KSAs framework was instrumental in organizing and delivering efficient patient care.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional education and practice are vital for effective healthcare delivery in global health settings.
• Collaborative efforts among diverse health profession students can significantly improve patient outcomes in underserved populations.
• Experiential learning through international missions enhances students' professional development and problem-solving abilities.