Changing the Health Care Conversation

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Japanese Proverb

IPE – Guiding Principles

Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice Roles/Responsibilities for

Collaborative Practice Interprofessional Communication Interprofessional Teamwork and

Team-based Care Collaborative Leadership Patient-Centeredness

Changing the Conversation

University of New England students reflect on their experience of

Interprofessional Education, and their hopes for Interprofessional Practice.

The Nexus

The next step forward is to increase the link between future healthcare employers and campus-based

interprofessional educational initiatives.

Interprofessional Practice Environments

Shared Assignments &

Didactics

6 Week Shared Rotations

Cross-professional

preceptorships

Common Patient Panel

Case Study

Problems Avoided

o Identification of non-compliance with medication protocols

o Incorrect medication storage leading to weakening of drug effects

o Duplication of drugs o Intervention for behavioral health issueso Identification of resource and access issues

impeding health management

Transforming Attitudes

“One of the best parts of this interaction for me was the ability to learn and share with one another. I was able to share my strengths as a student and learn to appreciate the strengths of student pharmacists. We both have the same goal: to provide excellent patient care, but we approach this goal from very different perspectives.”

“Because we know each other better, our interactions come easier and smoother when it comes to patient care… we feel comfortable to chime in and the visits became integrated in an organic way.”

Insider Tips

• The Power of Team.. 1 + 1 = > 2• Building Relationship and Oatmeal Casserole• Face Time• Trust• Empowerment• Results!

After visiting with the (patient) for a long period of time we were able to find deeper issues associated with her noncompliance and inability to attend office visits: our

main focus became finding this young woman help. It was clear that the patient really trusted [physician] and was

very open and honest with her communication. We ended up referring the young women to the social worker.

Better Population Health

Social Determinants of Health

Controlling Cost

Before this rotation started, I had imagined that team-based care would be more efficient but more expensive. After having gone through the rotation, I can see that the additional resources do actually help save money in the long term. For example, when patients are discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of CHF, any re-admittance within 30 days will not be covered by insurances. So the team-based approach to educating patients in this setting will help save money for the patient as well as the facility.

Enhancing Patient-centeredness

Not only was there time to review and reconcile the patient’s medication, it was also a chance to practice the art of medicine in empathizing and listening to the patient’s history. During these stories, I learned to understand that certain factors in their lives, situations in the past to present, have caused them difficulties and as a professional you must not judge. Listening and tailoring care for the patient dispels any stigma that patient’s may have towards health care providers. By learning to cast away any prejudices, I see that relations between patient and caregiver can become a partnership in improving healthcare for the patient.

… suspending the old ways“It helps to transform the operations and culture of healthcare to being more vigilant, with each curious

question posed by a student or mentor during clinical rounds. It raises the level of care because certain

findings may be overlooked but will be addressed by the student and holding other practitioners accountable to

the care of the patient.”

Triple Aim OutcomesPatient Safety & Controlling Costs• Each IP cohort has had at least one significant intervention with a patient

on a home visit averting errors and potential readmissions. More specifically, medication misadventures were discovered and corrected before consequences resulted. I imagine what a re-hospitalization would cost the health system, let alone the reduction in quality of life for the patient.

Improved Quality of Care• Medication management consultations; teams strengthened connections

between patients-providers and between providers-providersConnecting Academic & Clinical Site Education• I have seen significant changes in attitudes from the students who are

working in teams doing patient care both in the clinic and home visits. By the end of the rotation I have heard each student say “ I NOW value the role of …..X…” in patient care…..I NOW understand my ability to work more closely with ….X”.

Faculty Reflections

“The more we work interprofessionally, the more apparent it becomes that we face tremendously challenging health care issues that can only be solved through collaboration and teamwork. There is momentum to our interprofessional efforts that appears unstoppable.”

Jan Froehlich, OT Faculty

Shelley Cohen Konrad PhD, LCSWDaniel MicKool, M.S. R.PhUniversity of New England716 Stevens AvenuePortland, ME 04103scohenkonrad@une.edukpardue@une.edu