Different health professions come together to learn

An ageing population, growing numbers of people with chronic conditions, and an ageing, pressured health workforce are among hurdles facing health systems in New Zealand, and around the world. Advances in technology are providing some solutions, but those training and supporting health professionals are also looking at an innovative new approach to improve staff wellbeing and patients’ experience of healthcare.

It is called Interprofessional Education (IPE) and brings different health professions together to learn about each other and how to work and communicate more effectively in their patients’ interests. The approach is being used internationally, particularly in training the next generation of health professionals. The idea is that if students train with each other and establish productive and effective relationships, they function better as a team when they enter the workplace.

International research on the benefits of IPE has found it reduces errors and improves patient outcomes, safety and satisfaction; and improves staff wellbeing.

Te Papa Hauora/Christchurch Health Precinct recently hosted a series of workshops on IPE and how to put it into practice by a world leader in the area, Dr Margo Brewer from Australia’s Curtin University.

There are five key partners in Te Papa Hauora/ Christchurch Health Precinct, the Canterbury DHB, Otago and Canterbury universities, Ara Institute of Canterbury and Ngai Tahu’s earthquake recovery arm, Matapopore. One of our goals is to provide opportunities for health professionals and researchers to work together to improve outcomes for the health system and the community. To do this, we need to develop innovative models of professional learning and education to attract students from across New Zealand to our region to help build our future workforce.

Canterbury has a history of integration and interprofessional collaboration. Many of the Health Precinct partners are already working together implementing IPE initiatives; we wanted to support and grow their expertise in an area showing promise in benefiting both clinicians and their patients.

One example of IPE in practice in Canterbury is led by the University of Otago, Christchurch, and involves students from the University of Canterbury and Canterbury DHB staff. It brings final year medical students together with new nursing graduates, students of social work, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics and pharmacy students to develop a care plan for a 70-yearold fictional patient named Mary who needs to be discharged from hospital after suffering a stroke.

With the ageing population, stroke recovery is an increasingly common condition, where the patient is involved with a wide range of health professionals in tertiary and primary care.

Discharge is a time in the patient journey that requires a clear plan and communication with the patient, their family and other health professionals.

Another example is found in the Dedicated Education Units (DEUs) for nursing students established by the Canterbury health system in partnership with Ara.

They provide a supportive learning environment where nurses learn from experienced health professionals.

Interprofessional collaboration and education will grow exponentially between Health Precinct partners with the opening of the Manawa building, opposite Christchurch Hospital, housing nursing, midwifery and medical imaging students from Ara, Health Science postgraduate students and researchers from the University of Canterbury, and Canterbury DHB researchers, educators and all health staff.

Professor Ian Town is Chair of Te Papa Hauora/ Christchurch Health Precinct Advisory Council