Interprofessional Education Scholars Program: Next Level Healthcare
Introduction
Interprofessional collaboration amongst healthcare providers is crucial for successful health outcomes and patient satisfaction. It is essential that students in health professional programs learn the skills necessary to work in a team-based, patient-centered, interprofessional setting. Healthcare students at the University of Minnesota are provided with an opportunity to demonstrate and receive recognition for their efforts to learn and develop interprofessional collaboration expertise in the Interprofessional Education Scholars Program.
Interprofessional Education Scholars (IPE) receive mentorship from designated faculty advisors with the aim of enhancing knowledge, refining skills in interprofessional education, and applying these through leadership, teaching, and a scholarly project.
The University of Minnesota’s focus on interprofessional education began in 1970 with the establishment of the Center for Health Interprofessional Programs (CHIP). With the goal of recognizing students’ extensive skill and knowledge in interprofessional collaboration, the IPE scholars program was introduced in 2020. The IPE scholars program was established as one way to further student’s ability to enhance their knowledge and guide them in achieving the Triple Aim- to improve the patient experience of care, improve the health of populations, and reduce the per capita cost of health care.
Results
The development of the IPE Scholars program began in 2017 by the 1Health team at the University of Minnesota. The program was introduced to students and the first set of accepted applications occurred in fall of 2020. Since its inception, the infrastructure and key components of the IPE scholars program have continued to develop. In the first year IPE scholars were initiated, 29 healthcare students were enrolled. The healthcare professions represented in the first class included medicine, nursing (DNP, BSN, MN), Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, SPH-Masters of Healthcare Administration, and SPH-Administration and Policy PhD. Each student is assigned to one faculty advisor from a program outside of the student's professional program. Currently there are 9 faculty advisors working with the IPE scholars, each providing guidance and mentorship to a total of 51 students. The newest group of 22 incoming students will continue ongoing research and involvement in the IPE scholars program.
Next Steps
Next steps for the UMN IPE scholars program include recruiting more students, evaluating student feedback and outcomes, tracking benefits in the workplace and areas of study for graduates of the program, and continuing communication with students as they become future mentors, speakers, and leaders in both the university community and their own healthcare team.
