Straddling care and education: Developing interprofessional collaboration through a hotspotting service learning...

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Education
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Interprofessional (IP) team work is recognized for its potential to reduce burnout, enhance patient care quality, and lower healthcare costs.
• Despite demonstrated benefits, widespread adoption of IP teamwork in practice and education faces significant institutional barriers.
• IP service-learning projects are emerging as a viable strategy for students to gain practical experience while delivering essential community services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight a "hotspotting" program as a model for interprofessional service-learning.
• To share the benefits, challenges, and preliminary outcomes of this collaborative student initiative.
• To advocate for overcoming institutional barriers to implementing such impactful IP experiences.

Main Methods:

• A "hotspotting" program was implemented, involving collaborative work among health professions students.
• The program focused on improving the health outcomes of high-utilizing patient populations.
• Data collection included assessments of cost savings and student self-efficacy.

Main Results:

• Preliminary results indicate potential cost savings through targeted patient interventions.
• Student efficacy in interprofessional collaboration and patient care improved.
• The program provided valuable hands-on experience for students from diverse health professions.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional service-learning, exemplified by hotspotting, offers a practical approach to preparing students for collaborative healthcare environments.
• Addressing institutional barriers is crucial for the successful integration and scaling of IP team-based learning initiatives.
• These experiences are vital for mitigating professional burnout and enhancing the future healthcare workforce.