The SEARCH Project: Acquainting Students in the Health Professions with Interprofessional Care

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Care
• Community Health

Background:

• The SEARCH NH project was a 3-year collaboration involving the New Hampshire Area Health Education Center, educational institutions, and community health centers.
• Funded by the National Health Services Corps, the project aimed to address the need for healthcare professionals in underserved areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce health profession students to interprofessional care models.
• To provide students with practical experience in community health settings.
• To foster an understanding of collaborative healthcare delivery.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-four students from nursing, physician assistant, and medical programs participated.
• Students received didactic education on interprofessional care concepts.
• An immersive experience in a community health center followed the didactic training.

Main Results:

• Student reflections were analyzed using a clinical microsystems framework.
• Participants reported an increased appreciation for the 5 Ps of interprofessional work: purpose, professionals, patients, patterns, and processes.
• The project highlighted the value of experiential learning in community health settings.

Conclusions:

• The SEARCH NH project successfully provided valuable interprofessional education to health profession students.
• Experiential learning in community health centers enhances students' understanding of collaborative care.
• The findings support the integration of interprofessional training in health professions curricula.