Empowering Learners Through Experiential Interprofessional Education: A Pathway to Interprofessional Collaborative Care

Experiential learning opportunities tailored to interprofessional education (IPE) are essential for developing collaborative healthcare competencies. However, such opportunities remain rare in pre-licensure clinical settings. This pilot study introduced Individually Arranged Rotations (IndArr) to expose learners to diverse health professions and promote team-based care.Implementation: The program was designed around three core activities: shadowing and reflection, participation in interdisciplinary meetings, and active collaboration in care planning. A "sushi menu sheet" style tool allowed learners to select interprofessional experiences tailored to their interests. Learners customized their clinical exposure by engaging with nurses, dentists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and medical professionals across pediatric and adult care settings over either 2- or 4-week rotations. Learners also completed reflective assignments to capture insights into patient-centered care.Evaluation plan: Performance was evaluated using the validated Modified McMaster-Ottawa Scale, assessing domains such as communication, collaboration, team functioning, managing conflict, understanding of interprofessional roles, and global rating to measure interprofessional competencies. Learners were assessed after each half-day experience. Data were analyzed by domain and experience context. Learner reflections were analyzed to identify themes related to interprofessional dynamics, role clarity, and patient-centered approaches. Feedback was gathered to refine logistical and educational elements of the rotation, ensuring alignment with program objectives and learner needs.Outcome(s) and significance: Learners reported improved confidence in navigating team-based care environments and a better understanding of the many roles and responsibilities of diverse health professionals. Exposure across disciplines provided holistic insights into patient management and was reported to enhance performance in subsequent career stages. Key challenges included logistical complexities relating to customized scheduling and adapting assessment tools for clinical experiences, such as those without discernible conflict. This pilot demonstrates the value of flexible, tailored rotations in fostering interprofessional competencies. Scaling such initiatives could address gaps in healthcare education, advance interdisciplinary approaches to patient care, and inspire replication across health professional disciplines.