Interprofessional service-learning definition

ABSTRACT

In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the WHO’s Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice recognizing the significance of improved quality of patient care, lower healthcare costs and decrease medical errors through the use of interprofessional teams. This concept was embraced by the Midwest Interprofessional Practice Education and Research Center (MIPERC) and its Service-Learning workgroup, through the development of multiple interprofessional service-learning experiential opportunities for area health and medical students. Throughout MIPERC’s journey of developing and providing interprofessional service-learning opportunities, we have unsuccessfully sought to find a definition of interprofessional service-learning to assist us in better framing our work. We have found definitions of service-learning and interprofessional learning as well as case examples of service-learning, interprofessional learning, and interprofessional service-learning but, no definition of interprofessional service-learning. Following a review of the relevant literature, we have developed a definition of interprofessional service-learning that we believe is comprehensive and will be of use to other interprofessional service-learning organizations in framing and developing interprofessional service-learning opportunities for their health and medical students.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional
• service-learning
• collaboration
• interprofessional student teams
• interprofessional education
• interprofessional service-learning

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the Grand Valley State University Office of the Vice Provost for Health for coordinating and leading MIPERC as well as the additional 26 educational and health organizations (https://www.gvsu.edu/miperc/) that support and participate in MIPERC.

Declaration of interest

None of the authors have any conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was provided for this project.

Notes on contributors

Raymond J. Higbea

Raymond J. Higbea, PhD, FACHE is an Associate Professor of Health Administration and Program Director for the Master in Health Administration program. Housed in the School of Public, Nonprofit and Health Administration, Grand Valley State University, he joined GVSU in August 2014. Raymond has 45 years of combined health clinical and administrative experience and has been teaching graduate students since 2006.  Over the past 15 years, Raymond has worked on a variety of community-based solutions to community health and policy needs.  While he teaches several graduate classes, his focal areas are health finance, health economics, health ethics, and public policy.

Jodie Elder

Jodie Elder, PharmD is a Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. Jodie has 19 years of clinical and academic experience and has been at her most recent appointment at Ferris since 2009. Over the past 10 years, Jodie has taught in the didactic setting and practiced in Metro Health- University of Michigan Health ambulatory care clinics implementing interprofessional practice models and delivering disease state management services.

Julia VanderMolen

Julia VanderMolen, PhD, CHES is an Associate Professor for the Public Health and Program Director of the Hybrid Masters in Public Health.  Housed in the College of Health Professions, Grand Valley State University (GVSU), she joined GVSU in August of 2013.  Dr. VanderMolen teaches courses in the Public Health Promotion and Education emphasis, as well as the Introduction to Public Health course. Teaching online is another area of expertise for Dr. VanderMolen as she has taught, designed curriculum, and trained faculty using these technologies for the past 24 years.

Susan M Cleghorn

Susan M Cleghorn, DrOT, OTRL, CAPS, FNAP is an Associate Professor of Occupational Science & Therapy and Director of the Post Professional Doctorate in OT program at Grand Valley State University where she began teaching in 2008. Susan has 30 years of clinical experience working with both the pediatric and older adult populations in skilled nursing homes, home healthcare, and school systems. Her research interests and publications include aging in place, autism spectrum disorder, clinical assessment, IPE, and simulation in higher education.

Ranelle Brew

Ranelle Brew, Ed.D., CHES is an Associate Professor of Public Health and Chair and Program Director for the Department of Public Health.Housed in the College of Health Professions, Grand Valley State University, she joined GVSU in January 2009. Ranelle has 20 years of combined education and public health experience.  Her research interest areas include, global health, diversity pipelining into health careers, breastfeeding and accessibility.

Katie Branch

Katie Branch, MSN, RN, CHSE is the Director of the Simulation Center at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) where she is responsible for the high-fidelity manikin, assessment labs, and standardized patient events for GVSU’s 22 health-related academic programs.  Katie joined GVSU in 2009 and has served in several roles including; the Health Compliance Officer, the Director of University Clinical Initiatives, and the Senior Director for Health.  Prior to joining GVSU, Katie was the Director of Nursing at Western Michigan University’s, Sindecuse Health Center.  Katie received her MSN from Michigan State University and her BSN from the University of Missouri- Columbia.