The latest installment of “Stories from the Nexus” explores how two teams at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) implemented interprofessional processes and education to improve – and enhance – patient care.

Following a roundtable format, moderator Sarah Peyre, EdD, assistant dean for interprofessional education at URMC, and her colleagues discuss the challenges, outcomes and best practices to initiating change in their practice settings. 

Chapter 1:  Highland Family Medicine

The team from Suite 500 of Highland Family Medicine has a long history of delivering personal, inclusive and accessible care to a largely underserved population in the Rochester community.  In 2013, Highland Clinic received a Learning from Exemplary Ambulatory Practices (LEAP) designation by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as one of 31 exemplary primary care practices in the United States. 

As Dr. Peyre highlights during discussion, this culture of excellence is largely driven by the cohesiveness of the team, shared responsibility over patients and open communication. “The dynamic team setting makes them a wonderful and unique place,” said Dr. Peyre. “They come together as a team unit and they do this by having deliberate strategies in place that contribute to a successful collaborative practice environment.”

During the podcast members of the Suite 500 team discuss how recognizing differences, participating in role-sharing activities and regularly providing and acknowledging feedback has allowed them to provide patient and family-centered care.

Chapter 2:  IMPACT

The In-Patient Multi-Disciplinary Pediatric Asthma Care Team (IMPACT) at Golisano Children’s Hospital has not only improved care for asthma patients, but has transformed the teams providing care through onsite training, collaboration and honest discussion.

“IMPACT is a relatively new structure within URMC but it has taken clinical improvement culture by storm to create a new clinical pathway for asthma patients,” said Dr. Peyre. “The infrastructure for change they’ve created really speaks volumes about the significance of their team.”

During this podcast the team discusses their strategies to overcome cultural barriers and how an interprofessional team revolutionized treatment for asthma patients at URMC.

About “Stories from the Nexus”

“Stories from the Nexus” is a National Center-supported storytelling series that spotlights diverse examples of the Nexus in action. With the goal of demystifying interprofessional approaches to practice and education through dynamic and engaging content, “Stories from the Nexus” connects the voices of individuals and organizations working to change the way stakeholders in health learn and work together.

Each “chapter” focuses on a specific aspect of interprofessional practice and education – from emerging information to case studies and community highlights. Browse all “Stories from the Nexus” on our website. Interested in contributing your own story? Please contact Andy Pollen for more information.