Interprofessional Education

Purpose:

The WV Area Health Education Centers IPE Rotation is a group of interprofessional students working together to address health issues within rural West Virginia communities based on Healthy People 2030 focus areas and objectives.  The purpose of the AHEC IPE Rotation is to provide a solid interprofessional training experience focusing on graduate primary care education through a seamless integration of postgraduate and undergraduate health professions training in community health initiatives.

Approach:

The AHEC IPE researches a community’s needs and selects a Healthy People 2020 Objective(s) they feel addresses one or more of those needs.  As a team, they develop a public health intervention that is service based, prevention-oriented, and community-focused, that will impact the Healthy People 2020 Objective(s) they have selected. Once implemented, the IDT’s intervention is made available for subsequent teams to build upon, use as a reference, or generate new programming, if desired.

In addition, each participant selects personal competency goals from the Pew Health Professions Commission, "Twenty-One Competencies for the Twenty-First Century." Throughout the rotation, AHEC IDT Team members work to improve their chosen competencies.

With this approach, we emphasize:

  • Defining the roles and responsibilities of each member of the team

  • Interaction between clinical and community problems

  • Integration of interprofessional training and community service projects.

Additionally, each AHEC IPE Rotation consists of a team of learners that may include a preceptor or mentor, a primary care resident or osteopathic intern (preferred, but not required), and one or more medical students (osteopathic or allopathic). Each AHEC IPE Rotation must also include at least two of the following:  

  • Nursing or nurse practitioner student

  • Dental student or first year dental resident

  • PharmD candidate, MPH student

  • Dietetic student, social work student

  • PA student, physical therapy student

  • Medical technology student and/or one allied health student

Process & Expectations:

Participate in a team project that is designed to address one of the Healthy People 2020 Objectives.

  • Select personal competency goals from the Pew Health Professions Commission, 21 Competencies for the 21st Century.

  • Help create an AHEC IPE Team Work Plan that will impact your team objectives and develop your chosen competencies.

  • Devote at least two sessions per week to interdisciplinary teamwork. 

  • Develop a summary AHEC IPE Team Portfolio to include:

    • A. Healthy People 2020 Objective(s) chosen

    • Local data that defines your community

    • AHEC IPE Team Work Plan

    • Minutes of each AHEC IPE Team meeting/presentation/intervention

    • Recommendations for future teams 

  • Complete AHEC IPE evaluation, reflections, and discuss outcomes

 The 6 Steps of the Interprofessional Team Process

AHEC Interprofessional Team Process:

  1. Access community data information

  2. Assess community need and define the problem

  3. Develop teamwork plan and responsibilities

  4. Implement community plan and intervention

  5. Evaluate and reflect on AHEC outcomes and learning experiences

  6. Develop performance improvements for future teams