Developing interprofessional collaborative practice competencies in rural primary health care teams

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Interprofessional Education
• Primary Care Practice

Background:

• University, Area Health Education Center, and primary care centers (PCCs) leaders collaborated.
• Focus on integrating Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP) within PCC settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify facilitators and barriers to IPCP implementation in rural clinics.
• Assess IPCP's impact on decision-making and safety culture within PCCs.

Main Methods:

• Utilized engagement strategies to foster IPCP development.
• Collected quantitative data via surveys on collaboration and satisfaction.
• Analyzed qualitative data to identify implementation challenges and enablers.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated significant improvement in the Global Amount of Collaboration (p < .035).
• Identified barriers: high turnover, hierarchical culture, role ambiguity, time constraints, change readiness, and space limitations.
• Facilitators included structured huddles, goal alignment, and academic-practice partnerships.

Conclusions:

• Academic-practice partnerships can enhance collaboration and team learning.
• Strategic partnerships are crucial for successful IPCP integration in primary care.