The REACH project: implementing interprofessional practice at Australia's first student-led clinic

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Interprofessional Education
• Primary Health Care

Background:

• The Realising Education and Access in Collaborative Health (REACH) initiative by University of Melbourne students aims to enhance primary health care access.
• It operates on principles of collaboration, interprofessionalism, and client-centered care, driven by over 120 student volunteers.
• The model is informed by successful student-led clinics in North America and tailored to local underserviced communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot an interprofessional model of care for a student-led primary health clinic.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of student-led interprofessional primary health care delivery.
• To identify challenges and opportunities for refining the model.

Main Methods:

• An interprofessional model of care was co-designed by senior students from Medicine, Physiotherapy, Nursing, and Social Work.
• A local community health service partnered for the project.
• The model, featuring a triage process and simultaneous consultations by two disciplines, was implemented in a 4-week pilot in October 2011.

Main Results:

• The pilot successfully implemented the interprofessional student-led clinic model.
• Dissonance was observed between the principles of interprofessionalism, client-centered care, and efficient care during the pilot.
• Logistical and ideological challenges were identified.

Conclusions:

• The student-run clinic successfully provided free health services and facilitated interprofessional learning at clinical and management levels.
• The pilot highlighted challenges that provide a basis for future refinement of the community service model.
• This study demonstrates the potential of student-led interprofessional models in primary health care.