Simulating Interprofessional Geriatric Patient Care Using Telehealth: A Team-Based Learning Activity.

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Interprofessional Education
• Telehealth

Background:

• Over one-third of Oklahomans reside in rural areas, with many counties designated as health professional shortage areas.
• Telemedicine presents a viable solution to address healthcare access challenges in underserved rural populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate an interprofessional learning sequence for nurse practitioner, physical therapy, and occupational therapy students.
• To prepare students for team-based geriatric care utilizing telehealth technologies.

Main Methods:

• The curriculum incorporated modules on interprofessional competencies, a simulated patient case, and clinical experiences.
• Instructional materials and evaluation tools were developed for replication.

Main Results:

• Student reflections indicated high motivation and active engagement in collaborative teamwork.
• Students actively considered effective strategies for team-based care of a standardized patient.

Conclusions:

• The developed telehealth learning sequence is suitable for educators with access to telehealth equipment.
• Simulated telehealth patient encounters can be adapted using alternative technologies.