Evolution of an IPE Program at an Academic Healthcare Institution

The Interprofessional Education (IPE) program began in 1998 as a response to the Institute of Medicine's 2000 report, "To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System," which highlighted the need for improved patient safety and teamwork in healthcare. Furthermore, many disciplines adopted IPE as accreditation requirement.Goals, objectives, and purpose: The primary goal of our IPE program was to prepare students for effective teamwork to enhance patient safety and quality of care. The program aimed to introduce students to a teamwork culture and develop their communication skills.Methods/Methodology: The IPE program evolved from small pilot programs to large-scale training sessions. The curriculum was based on the IPEC Competencies and incorporated TeamSTEPPS materials. Through the years we used lectures, simulations, online modules, role plays, and small-group discussions as well as reflection and communication assignments. The program adapted to the pandemic by creating a virtual program, which continued until 2023. This format allowed for a longitudinal experience over the course of a semester. Our planning committee was composed of experts from across the health and public health domains.Results/Findings: The pilot began with 8 students and by 2018 we were training over 1,500 students from various medical, nursing and public health disciplines. The program has impacted thousands of students through its 20-year history and provided faculty with valuable training and professional development opportunities. In addition, to IPE training we developed and implemented a tool to measure SBAR communication skills noting improvements in our students with our training program.Conclusions, implications, and/or curiosities: The IPE program has provided a generation of students with a strong basis of teamwork and communication skills that form a foundation for collaborative practice. The future will focus is on translation to collaborative practice skills in the clinical environment. The program's success highlights the importance of teamwork and communication in healthcare education.