Improving interprofessional understanding via interprofessional case conferences.
Using a case study format with standardized patients, Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Medical Doctor (MD), Nursing (N), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) and Physician Assistant (PA) learners work as collaborative, interprofessional teams to solve a "medical mystery" regarding their standardized patient. Under the direction of interprofessional pairs of DPT, MD, N, Pharm D and PA facilitators, learners receive minimal information about their "patient" and then must rely on each other to develop and execute an interview strategy to obtain appropriate information from their standardized patient to find out what why that patient has come to see them. Learners also develop an evaluation strategy, and assess the patient's subjective report and objective findings, to develop a plan of care. Students then work as a team to counsel the standardized patient on the best manner to treat their specific complaints. Facilitators guide the learners through this process. Once all groups complete their counseling sessions, all participants meet for a wrap up session to discuss what the patient had and the key points of interprofessional care to best treat the patients concerns and diagnoses. Educational Objectives: ● To collaborate with other health professionals to develop a care plan. ● To discuss the contributions of different health care providers in the care of patients. ● To identify at least 3 contributing factors to insomnia in an adult patient. ● To describe the typical presentation and initial therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome. ● To discuss the potential impact of nutritional factors and over-the-counter medications on a patient. To assess the efficacy of the interprofessional team approach to providing care to a specific patient.