Thirty years and counting: The downs and ups of IPECP

I am Dr. Jill Thistlethwaite, an interprofessional champion and academic, retired from being a family physician but still involved in health professional education through mentoring, writing and presenting, working in Australia but born in the UK.

I became involved with IPE while a general practice educator as we introduced joint education sessions for GP trainees and practice nurses in the 1990s in the north of England, though we did not call this IPE then! In 1996 I moved into academia and met Hugh Barr, one of the principal proponents of IPECP globally - he invited me to be an associate editor for the Journal of Interprofessional Care.  I was also involved in setting up IPE activities for a mix of HP students and recently graduated HPs. 

Over the years I have seen IPECP promoted, forgotten, sidelined and embedded in various places but with an ongoing commitment of the IPECP community to collaboration and improving healthcare delivery, social justice and inclusion.  There is much work to be done as healthcare is subject to political forces and, unfortunately, tribalism still exists amongst HPs in some jurisdictions.  

My achievements in IPECP have been realised through collaborating with a network of colleagues - nothing can be accomplished alone.  I am proud of my publishing record, the nurturing of younger colleagues to write and publish, global presentations to help others develop IPE and my senior Fulbright time at the National Centre for Interprofessional Practice and Education in Minnesota. 

IPR.Global is a global community of practice, that supports and motivates the development and dissemination of IPECP initiatives and research/evaluation concepts and projects.  It is a network of friend and colleagues with similar perspectives and ambitions from diverse backgrounds and cultures. 

@Jill Thistlethwaite

New Publication: Forward Thinking and Adaptability to Sustain and Advance IPECP in Healthcare Transformation Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Forward Thinking and Adaptability to Sustain and Advance IPECP in Healthcare Transformation Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hossein Khalili,  Jyotsna Pandey, Sylvia Langlois, Vikki Park, Ryan Brown, Alla El-Awaisi, Kathleen MacMillan, Shelley Cohen Konrad, Brittany Daulton, Christopher Green, Giray Kolcu, Charlotte McCartan, Gina Baugh, Andrea Pfeifle, Lisa Wetzlmair, Inci Kolcu, Anthony P. Breitbach

ABSTRACT

The proliferation of the novel SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus across the globe in 2020 produced a shared trauma internationally of unprecedented devastation, disruption, and death. At the same time, the pandemic has been a transformation catalyst accelerating the implementation and adoption of long overdue changes in healthcare education and practice, including telehealth and virtual learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed healthcare at a crossroads, either viewing it as a temporary situation that requires short-term solutions, or as a major disruption that presents opportunities for innovation for sustainable development and transformation. As COVID-19 transitions from pandemic to endemic, we have a unique opportunity to leverage lessons learned that can foster healthcare transformation through innovation, forward thinking, and interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP). With the changing landscape of higher education and healthcare, IPECP leaders need to reflect on and implement ‘Forward Thinking and Adaptability’ and ‘Sustainability and Growth’ in their IPECP approaches and strategies to achieve the Quintuple Aim. To capitalize on this opportunity and based on a recent publication by InterprofessionalResearch Global, this paper explores and debates (from a global perspective) the impact and application of healthcare education and practice transformation on IPECP with the goal to identify best practices in integrating and sustaining IPECP and building a resilient workforce. 

Access the article here: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/ijahsp/vol22/iss1/18/

CITATION

Khalili H, Pandey J, Langlois S, Park V, Brown R, El-Awaisi A, MacMillan K, Cohen Konrad S, Daulton B, Green C, Kolcu G, McCartan C, Baugh G, Pfeifle A, Wetzlmair L, kolcu I, Breitbach AP. Forward Thinking and Adaptability to Sustain and Advance IPECP in Healthcare Transformation Following the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2023 Dec 15;22(1), Article 18.

IPR Global Pearls: Interprofessional collaboration: A public policy healthcare transformation call for action - National Academies of Practice

Interprofessional collaboration: A public policy healthcare transformation call for action

Irma Ruebling, Terry Eggenberger, Jody Shapiro Frost, Ellayne Ganzfried, Annette Greer, Hossein Khalili, Jessica Ochs, Julie Ronnebaum, Susan M. Stein (National Academies of Practice)

Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice (2023)

The United States faces a health system crisis from evolving and lingering social, economic, and political issues complicated by a global pandemic. However, it is the same crisis that presents opportunities for transformation as the nation evaluates how best to address the vulnerabilities, inequities, and inefficiencies of fragmented healthcare exposed during a period of extreme systemic strain on the healthcare system. The National Academies of Practice (NAP) is well positioned as the oldest interprofessional health sciences organization, to lead advocacy efforts in a comprehensive approach for inclusive care that is modeled on interprofessional collaborative practice. NAP recognizes that the scope of healthcare extends traditional hospital boundaries into communities and homes. Further, NAP advocates for intentional interprofessional education of pre-licensure and post-licensure health professionals as a requirement to foster a paradigm shift in healthcare where the patient and family are central and active members of decision making. The purpose of this paper is to provide an explanation of the ongoing strategic goals, initiatives, and core tenets of NAP that are focused on Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP), Interprofessional Education (IPE), and now Interprofessional Education for Collaborative Practice (IPECP). Further, NAP examines current healthcare system issues in a defining manner and offers viable action plans for NAP and others to support a paradigm shift in the framework for health system transformation.

LINK: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405452623000770

CITATION: Ruebling, I., Eggenberger, T., Frost, J. S., Ganzfried, E., Greer, A., Khalili, H., Ochs, J., Ronnebaum, J., & Stein, S. M. (2023). Interprofessional collaboration: A public policy healthcare transformation call for action. Journal of interprofessional education & practice, 33, 100675. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2023.100675  

IPR.Global PEARLS: Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) in Post-COVID Healthcare Education and Practice Transformation Era

The COVID-19 Pandemic produced significant disruptions in all aspects of life across the world. Globally, no region avoided the impact that this crisis created. It particularly stressed healthcare delivery systems with regard to resources and personnel, requiring collaboration, creativity, and resilience of health professionals, institutions, and policy makers. Educational institutions felt a similar impact where, in March 2020, many universities and colleges were forced into a new pedagogical paradigm of remote learning with online and hybrid delivery methods.

These conditions reinforced the need for interprofessional collaboration in educational and healthcare and many of the lessons learned from innovations that were developed in response to the pandemic have produced a lasting impact on persons and institutions. Our purpose is to explore and discuss the impact and application of healthcare education and practice transformation on interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) during the post-COVID era (from a global perspective) with the goal to identify best practices to integrate and sustain IPECP.

This report provides information in two sections:

IPECP and Healthcare Education and Practice at a Cross Point: The future of healthcare relies on our successful and systematic evolution out of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed healthcare at a crossroads of either viewing it as a temporary situation that requires short-term solutions, or as a major disruption that presents opportunities for innovation for sustainable development and transformation.

From Momentum to a Movement: Ways to Integrate and Sustain IPECP in Healthcare Education and Practice: As the landscape of higher education and healthcare is continuing to evolve to meet the growing needs and expectations of students, patients, and communities, it is time for the IPECP leaders to reflect on the changing societal trends, demographics, diversity, and technologies in becoming more adaptable for the future. The healthcare digital transformation and technologies are here to stay and grow, and the sustainability and growth of virtual learning and practice in IPECP will be reliant on how we best utilize them to meet the IPECP agenda and goal of achieving Quintuple Aim.

The Report is accessible here: https://interprofessionalresearch.global/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IPECP-in-Post-COVID-Healthcare-Education-and-Practice-Transformation-Era-Joint-Discussion-Paper.pdf

IPR.Global Members Provide Online Workshop on Mixed-Methods Research Design and Collaborative IPECP Scholarship

The Network: Towards Unity for Health Online Community (TUFH) Workshop 

Using Mixed-Methods Research Methodology to Design and Evaluate Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) Initiatives

Date: December 8, 2022 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM UTC

Venue: Zoom - Free of Charge

Registration Link: https://tufh.org/events/99452/registration 

Description:

Despite improvements in the quantity and quality of evaluative research on interprofessional education, and collaborative practice and care (IPECP), there is still much to be achieved. The research agenda for IPECP should elevate the process of enquiry by focusing on examining and determining the impact of IPECP on service users. The rigorous assessment and evaluation of IPECP initiatives are essential to advancing the discipline. Mixed-methods research can assist IPECP researchers/scholars in producing comprehensive quantitative and qualitative evidence that uncovers multiple perspectives of both paradigms to determine the impact of IPECP on safe high-quality care; understanding the complexity of health care costs; determining ‘collaborative practice-readiness of health and social care professionals; and ultimately improving population and public health. Intended Outcomes: This workshop aims to connect current investigators who wish to understand IPECP and generate new knowledge in this area, using a mixed methodological approach. Participants will be introduced to the principles and key decisions necessary for rigorous mixed-methods research, and how it can be applied by practitioners, educators and health administrators to evaluate IPECP.

Presenters:

Hossein Khalili, RN, BScN, MScN, PhD, FNAP, Director, UW Centre of Interprofessional Practice & Education, University of Wisconsin; President, InterprofessionalResearch.Global

Barbara Maxwell, PT, Ph.D., DPT, MSc, Cert THE, FNAP, Associate Dean & Director INdiana University Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Indiana University

Dean Lising, BSc, BScPT, MHSc, Team-Based Practice and Education Lead, Director, BOOST! Program, Centre for Interprofessional Education, Lecturer, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Andrea Pfeifle, EdD PT FNAP, Associate Vice Chancellor for Interprofessional Practice and Education, The Ohio State University

Veronica O'Carroll, RN, BA(Hons), MSc, PhD.  Director of Postgraduate Teaching, School of Medicine, University of St Andrews, Scotland UK

Zaid Al-Hamdan RN, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan

Outcomes for Participants:

At the end of  the Workshop participants will be able to:

• Understand the value and impact of mixed methods approaches to IPECP assessment, evaluation, and research.
• Contrast principles and decision-making processes in rigorous mixed-methods IPECP research.
• Apply learnings to participant’s context of practice, education, and research agenda using group knowledge co-creation and integration.

Agenda:

1. Round table introductions and sharing experience and one personal goal of the workshop
2. Quick review of research in IPECP
3. Overview of commonly used mixed-method research methodology (and their common designs) in IPECP
4. Small Group Activity - Research knowledge integration: applying mixed-method research methodology in real case scenarios
5. Report out and next steps
6. Wrap Up

We recommend you to read the following article prior to the event: 

Khalili H, Breitbach A, Jensen G, King S, Maxwell B, Nickol D, et al. Global leadership in IPECP research; an intro to co-creation of best practice guidelines. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice. 2021;24:100445.