Course Description:

Interprofessional team members are challenged to assure the highest-quality care with the lowest costs, without medical errors, and with optimal outcomes. Traditional approaches have included single-practitioner, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary care. However, these older models have reportedly included gaps in communication and practice. There is a current need to achieve the complex goals of the latest Quintuple Aim. Significant evidence from current research shares the use of interprofessional collaboration to be useful in this goal. This course will initially share the definitions and benefits of interprofessional collaboration in practice and education. Participants will then be directed through strategies to overcome barriers for achieving collaborative teamwork and will see the examples of such collaborative practices across multiple settings, including primary care, acute care, skilled nursing facilities, home health, outpatient care, universities, and schools. This course is applicable to physicians, nurses, physical therapists and physical therapy assistants, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, speech-language pathologists, respiratory therapists, athletic trainers, social workers, case managers, and dietitians.