Breaking Silos: Using Interprofessional Simulations to Teach Continuity of Care Concepts

Data has shown that simulations enhance learning in health professions curricula giving students a “safe” place to make mistakes and learn from their actions. The incorporation of interprofessional interactions during simulations has also been shown to be beneficial and contribute to team dynamics and better patient care. Continuity of care also plays an important role in optimizing patient care, but stressing the importance of this concept and teaching it to learners can be challenging.Implementation: This program will provide an overview of one institution’s implementation of a series of interprofessional simulations built into each of six semesters of the first three years of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum to reinforce concepts being taught in the didactic curriculum while also reinforcing IPE concepts and continuity of care objectives. The program will provide details about our patient, describe the simulations and affiliated disciplines, discuss how challenges have been addressed, and discuss transferability.Evaluation plan: Following each activity, students complete the IPEC Competencies Self-Assessment. The self-assessment also includes questions about students’ perceptions of the importance of the continuity of care aspect of the experience. During each activity, evaluators complete the IPEC Competency evaluation rubric, and the evaluation data is coded with the personal identification code of each student. The IPEC Competency rubric includes questions similar to the self-assessment but is evaluated by an instructor based on student performance. Results of the innovation will be shared.Outcome(s) and significance: Although other institutions have published information regarding longitudinal interprofessional education initiatives, there is no current literature regarding a continuity of care project that involves the same patient receiving care throughout an extended period while incorporating realistic encounters with other health professionals. Focusing on interprofessional education and continuity of care objectives simultaneously allows our team to emphasize the importance of coordinated care, effective communication strategies, and collaborative practice.