Maximizing the use of the intraprofessional team to develop interprofessional pediatric primary care teams

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ABSTRACT

Pediatric well-child care focuses on growth, development, physical examination, and caregiver education for health prevention and promotion. There is limited time for providing all of these services within typical well-child visits. A series of research activities explored opportunities for interprofessional collaboration within pediatric primary care teams during well-child care. The four research activities included a focus group with occupational therapy practitioners, observations of well-child visits, and two caregiver surveys; two faculties and two students were involved as part of the intraprofessional research team. Results of the research activities identified opportunities for allied health professionals as part of the pediatric primary care team to support incongruence between current care delivery and caregiver preferences for care. While activity participation was found to be well addressed in primary care, an increased focus on understanding the impact of child and family habits, routines, and contexts on activity participation is an opportunity for interprofessional primary care teams to promote health outcomes for children.

KEYWORDS:

• Pediatric primary care
• interprofessional collaboration
• occupational therapy
• developmental screening

Acknowledgments

This research was funded through an Academic Excellence Grant provided by the GHR Foundation. There is no financial interest or benefit that will arise to the authors from this publication and the authors have no conflict of interest to report.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the St. Catherine University Internal GHR Academic Excellence Grant [Improving Professional and Child Outcomes].

Notes on contributors

Stephanie L. De Sam Lazaro

Stephanie de Sam Lazaro is Associate Professor and Program Director for the Graduate Programs in Occupational Therapy at St. Catherine University. Her practice experience and scholarship have focused on equitable practices for children, adolescents, and their families with an emphasis on promoting health and wellness in community and primary care settings.

Bonnie R. W. Riley

Bonnie Riley is an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Ithaca College in New York. She is an occupational therapy educator and a pediatric occupational therapist with experiences in leadership and advocacy. Her expertise and program development abilities emphasize engaging families and promoting children's health.