October 23, 2017

Welcome to the Interprofessional Practice, Education, and Research Collaborative monthly update. Each month the IPER collaborative will contribute a column highlighting an interprofessional event or activity that faculty and students have participated in, organized, developed or experienced.

Today, the IPER Collaborative is answering some questions you may have about interprofessional education and what this means at the College of Nursing and Health Professions.

Why do we have to do this?  We are currently in a dynamic healthcare environment faced with complicated healthcare systems, patient safety concerns, limited resources and an aging population with complex needs.  As practitioners and educators, we have an obligation to develop a healthcare workforce dedicated to improving the patient and family experience of care, improving the health of populations, and reducing the per capita cost of healthcare.  These challenges can be achieved though interprofessional practice, education, and research.

Why us? The College of Nursing and Health Professions is distinctive in its offering of a wide variety of disciplines. We are boundless opportunities in our diversity!  As an educational institution dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare providers, we experience our greatest strength when we come together. Our mission is shared: CNHP is committed to leading the way in improving health and reducing health disparities through innovative education, interprofessional research, and community-based practice initiatives.  

Why is this so important? One, our social responsibility is to improve the culture of healthcare and it starts with interprofessional education of students. Two, the future of healthcare is integrative collaboration. We must equip our students to be practitioners prepared to work in teams. Three, innovative interprofessional healthcare education leads to effective and comprehensive patient care and better outcomes.  We are better together!

What do we have to do? As educators, clinicians, and researchers working in Philadelphia, the opportunities for local, community care are plentiful and supported by Drexel clinics in multiple locations throughout the city. Our promise as educators requires modeling collaboration, exploring experiential transformative learning experiences, and fostering student learning success. CNHP is well-positioned with a combination of resources, location, and time, to be leaders in improving healthcare through integrative practice, education and research.

What now? So much is already happening in CNHP that is interprofessional, and there is so much more on the horizon!  We ask you to collaborate with each other to create dynamic education experiences knowing that the IPER Collaborative will be there to support you. Additionally, we ask you to take advantage of and promote all interprofessional opportunities that are being created by your colleagues. Be supportive of each other, other disciplines and all students. We are better together!

Thank you,
IPER Collaborative

Next month:

Mindfulness: For Clinical Practice and Life – Annette Willgens, PT, EdD and Michelle Rattigan, MA, ATR-BC speak about their workshop on mindfulness available for all CNHP students. They covered strategies to manage stress, improve resilience, avoid common pitfalls as student clinical practitioners and more!