Interprofessional

Healthcare
INTERPROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION AND INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
HLSC1000
 1. Define Interprofessional Collaboration

2. Describe the benefits of

Interprofessional Collaboration, and
barriers to successful implementation

Learning 3. Describe the primary role of different

health professions, and how they
Objectives might work collaboratively to manage
complex patient cases

4. Define Interprofessional Education

and its importance in preparing
health students for future
collaborative practice
 Definitions

 Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC):

“When multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work
together with patients, families, carers and communities to deliver the highest
quality of care. It allows health workers to engage any individual whose skills
can help achieve local health goals” (WHO, 2010)

 Interprofessional Education (IPE):

“when students from two or more professions learn about, from and with each
other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes” (WHO,
2010)
BENEFITS of Interprofessional Collaboration

 Shared professional experiences and knowledge

 Shared decision making
 Improved understanding of other health practitioner roles
 Regular communication between care givers
 Reduce duplication of resources ( health care costs)
 Improved holistic care

Patient-centred and shared case management

 improves clinical effectiveness
 better patient outcomes
 BENEFITS of Interprofessional Collaboration

 Doctor
 Nurse
 Physiotherapist
 Occupational Therapist
 Social Worker
 Psychologist

Copied from Spinal Cord Injuries Australia:

https://scia.org.au/
 BARRIERS to Interprofessional Collaboration

Traditionally different health professions learnt in healthcare ‘silos’:

 Fragmentation of healthcare
 Hierarchies developed
 Boundary disputes – protection of professional ‘territory’

Poor communication:
 Respecting other practitioner opinions
 Understanding different health ‘language’
 Dispute management
 How does IP Collaboration work effectively?

 Practitioners understand their own role, and the roles of other

professions:
 Promotes active participation of each discipline in patient care
 Fosters respect for the contributions of all professionals
 Offers multiple perspectives on clinical issues

 Good communication:
 Sensitive and professional manner
 Mechanisms for regular communication e.g case conference meetings

 Effectively deal with interprofessional conflict

Interprofessional
Education
Why is Interprofessional Education important?

IPE occurs “when students from two or more professions learn about, from and
with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health
outcomes” (WHO, 2010)

 Prepares health students to be work-ready for collaborative practice

Why is Interprofessional Education important?

 Research shows:
• Effective IPE enables effective collaborative practice in the workplace
• IPE should commence early, and continue throughout undergraduate degrees

 Students that participate in IPE show:

• Increased knowledge of roles of other health professionals
• Understand importance of working together to manage complex patient
problems
• Develop competencies that will enable them to work collaboratively
throughout their careers
IPE opportunities at undergraduate level?

 HLSC1000 and HUBS subjects

 Clinical placement

 Social interaction

 IPE events through UoN

Case scenarios of IPC
Case scenario 1

 Not all professions are going to work together

 Oral Health therapists:

 Work as part of the Dental team – Dentist, dental assistants, dental
prosthetists

 Radiographers, Radiation therapists, Nuclear medicine

technologists
 Work primarily with doctors (medical specialists, registrars, residents)
and nursing staff
 Case Scenario 2:
65 yr old with Diabetes

 Oral health: link between good oral health and improved diabetic control
 Dietitian: education on food intake for managing blood glucose levels
 Podiatrist: Diabetic patients at risk of peripheral vascular problems – foot care
important
 Physiotherapist: education on exercise; management of diabetes
complications like amputation
 Other health professionals:
▪ GP
▪ Diabetes medical specialist
▪ Diabetes nurse educator
▪ Optometrist
Case Scenario 3:
75 yr old who lives alone, had a stroke 2 months
ago, and today has fallen over

 Radiographer: X-ray to check for fracture

 Physiotherapist: mobility assessment and training
 Occupational therapist: self-care assessment and home
visit
 Social worker: assessment for home services
 Speech therapist: speech and swallowing assessment
and training
 Medical doctors and nurses
References

 Bridges et al (2011). Interprofessional collaboration: three best practice

models of interprofessional education. Medical Education Online, 16(1), 1-
7
 Chan, A. and Wood, V. (2010). Preparing tomorrow’s healthcare providers
for Interprofessional Collaborative patient-centred practice today. UBC
Faculty of Medicine Medical Journal, 1(2), 22–24
 Fedoruk, M. and Hofmeyer, A. (2014). Becoming and Nurse: An
Evidenced-based Approach. Oxford University Press
 Gilbert, J., Yan, J, and Hoffman, S. (2010). A WHO Report: Framework for
action on interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Journal
of Allied Health, 39(3), 196-197
 World Health Organization (2010). Framework for Action on
Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. Geneva, WHO