Integrating an Interprofessional Education Model at a Private University

Abstract

In 2012, a private University in South Texas sought to prepare eight cohorts of 25 nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and health care administration students with an interprofessional education activity as a model for collaborative learning. The two semester interprofessional activity used a blended model (Blackboard Learn, face-to-face and simulated experiences) to teach the core competencies of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP). The organizing framework for the curriculum sequence included concepts of health promotion, prevention and intervention embedded in the Web of Causation (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary care). One hundred ninety-eight students participated in the interprofessional educational activity. Several of the disciplines used multiple methods to invite students to participate in this voluntary effort. One discipline provided a means by which students could select this activity as an elective and another integrated the activity into an existing course. While not completely new, transforming the way pre-licensed students and faculty in health professions education experience clinical and didactic environments is an imperative. Interprofessional education and clinical practice must be an intentional preparation that needs and requires support from university administration for successful implementation and sustainability.