An interprofessional clinical experience to address social determinants of health

The importance of effective interprofessional communication and collaboration as a strategy to improve patient outcomes has been documented in the literature. Efforts to integrate interprofessional education have been difficult to actualize due to myriad factors in academic and clinical settings. The COVID public health emergency presented an unexpected opportunity to address the needs of an underserved community through an interprofessional clinical experience between medical and APRN students. A screening tool and resource-driven algorithm were developed and launched by students in the college of medicine, for the patients of a university hospital clinic. This initiative helped meet the needs of the community, with the value-added benefit of an interprofessional clinical experience. Using a train-the-trainer model, students were oriented to the project and an online platform for real-time collaboration. Results of this initiative were positive. Approximately 100 medical and APRN students participated and contacted 1,489 patients in the community. Medical and social needs were addressed for 681 patients, and urgent social needs were addressed for 30 people. Students gained valuable clinical experience and had opportunities to identify and address social determinants of health while collaborating with medical student counterparts.