Call the on-Call: Authentic Team Training on an Interprofessional Training Ward - A Case Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Teamwork Training

Background:

• Healthcare teams often face a gap between training and real-world practice.
• Effective teamwork requires seamless communication and adaptability, especially in distributed settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel learning activity, "Call the On-Call," designed for authentic healthcare teamwork.
• To explore the impact of a distributed team setting on interprofessional learning.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods case study approach was used, incorporating surveys, reflection notes, focus groups, and observations.
• The "Call the On-Call" activity involved separated team members and a telephone communication exercise.
• Sociocultural learning and social capital theories guided the analysis of student and supervisor perspectives.

Main Results:

• Most students (n=198) reported enhanced interprofessional and professional competence, with nursing students gaining confidence in communicating with doctors.
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy students noted increased interprofessional competence despite limited participation in the telephone exercise.
• Authenticity was a key perceived strength, and concerns about team building were unfounded.

Conclusions:

• The "Call the On-Call" activity fostered reflection on interprofessional collaboration and enhanced communication skills.
• Physical proximity is not a prerequisite for effective healthcare team building.
• Distributed training can significantly improve interprofessional learning and communication outcomes.