Resource Center

This report is organized in the following fashion: first, we provide key definitions and principles that guided us in identifying core interprofessional competencies. Then, we describe the timeliness of interprofessional learning now, along with separate efforts by the six professional education organizations to move in this direction. We identify eight reasons why it is important to agree on a core set of competencies across the professions.

This paper presents the initial findings from a longitudinal quantitative study of two cohorts of students who entered the 10 pre-qualifying programmes of the Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, UK. The overall aim of the study is to explore students' attitudes to collaborative learning and collaborative working, both before and after qualification.

As a clinic with limited resources, and operated solely by volunteers, the PNC has experienced many changes in its volunteer and leadership bodies. These changes occur usually during leadership transition and are often the result of volunteer initiative to expand the services and quality of those services offered at the clinic. Changes typically arise for one of four reasons:

Future Oriented—changes to expand and improve the clinic

Problem Solving—changes to adapt to challenges or issues

A longitudinal quantitative study in an English faculty of health and social care explored the effects of a pre-qualifying interprofessional curriculum for students from 10 professional programmes. Students on the interprofessional curriculum completed questionnaires containing four attitude scales on entry to the faculty, during their second year and at the end of their final year.

The Institute of Medicine explores the existing evidence-base related to education of health professionals in evidence-based practice, the educational and regulatory barriers to integrating this topic area in the academic and continuing education settings, proposed actions for overcoming these barriers, and model schools or educational programs offering curricula in this topic area. Embedded in this paper are questions that will serve to initiate the development of strategies for reform of health professions education.

The Institute of Medicine explores the existing evidence-base related to the education of health professionals in quality improvement, the educational and regulatory barriers to integrating this approach in the academic and continuing education settings, proposed actions for incorporating quality improvement into health professions education, and model schools or educational programs offering curricula in this area. Embedded in this paper are questions that will serve to initiate the development of strategies for reform of health professions education.

The Institute of Medicine explores the existing evidence-base related to the education of health professionals in interdisciplinary teams, the educational and regulatory barriers to incorporating interdisciplinary teams in the academic and continuing education settings, proposed actions to overcome these barriers, and model schools or educational programs using interdisciplinary teams.

This article by Beth Rosenthal, PhD, MPH, MBA (ACCAHC Assistant Director) and Anthony Lisi, DC (ACCAHC Clinical Working Group member), analyzes the components of various integrative medicine-related definitions published by a range of well-known sources. A group of eleven themes emerged. The most common elements included whole person focus, evidence-informed, optimal health/wellness, and combination of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) with conventional medicine. Differences existed with respect to terms such as modality/therapy versus profession/discipline.

This project, engaged with Michael Goldstein, PhD, of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, examines the current and prospective roles of doctors of chiropractic, naturopathic physicians, doctors and practitioners of acupuncture and Oriental medicine and direct-entry midwives in meeting nation's primary care needs.

This Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report profiles the experiences of more than 20 hospitals and community health centers that utilize interprofessional collaboration to achieve better patient outcomes. The report, "Lessons From the Field: Promising Interprofessional Collaboration Practices," helps health care entities assess the potential benefits of interprofessional collaboration and offers a road map to implementing the approach.