Development of an Interprofessional Education Experiential Learning Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Healthcare delivery system transformation
• Interprofessional education (IPE) and integrative health

Background:

• Healthcare systems face challenges: demographic shifts, increased chronic conditions, and access disparities.
• Integrative health and interprofessional collaborative practice offer solutions to evolving healthcare demands.
• Health professions curricula need adaptation to prepare students for system changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share lessons learned from a 5-year interprofessional education (IPE) experiential learning curriculum.
• To identify essential components for successful IPE implementation in health professions training.

Main Methods:

• A 5-year experiential learning curriculum involving graduate physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and undergraduate nursing students.
• Documenting experiences and outcomes from the interprofessional education program.

Main Results:

• IPE success necessitates a foundation of common knowledge across disciplines.
• Extensive faculty involvement, institutional support, and flexibility are crucial.
• Ongoing community engagement is vital for effective interprofessional learning.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is a viable strategy for preparing health professions students.
• Key elements for successful IPE include shared knowledge, faculty commitment, institutional backing, and community partnerships.
• IPE can be adapted for diverse health professions and community settings.