Interprofessional practice and education: holistic approaches to complex health care challenges

The incidence of chronic health conditions continues to rise worldwide. As a result, many groups and decision makers are calling for greater use of interprofessional health care teams and education to effectively address the social, psychological, biological, environmental, and economic dimensions inherent in these health care challenges. This article examines interprofessional practice (IPP) and interprofessional education (IPE) and addresses the following questions: (1) What is IPP; (2) What is IPE; (3) What competencies are necessary to effectively engage in IPP; (4) Who should be educated to serve on IPP health delivery teams; and (5) What educational model can best prepare health care professionals with the skills and practice experiences needed to address complex health issues in a comprehensive fashion? We propose a unique university-based IPE model that effectively addresses complex health issues and maximizes collaboration among clinical, nonclinical, and community stakeholders.