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SFU School of Health Sciences and Education Holds Interprofessional Exercise

Loretto, PA (04/08/2019) — The Saint Francis University School of Health Sciences and Education held their 3rd annual Interprofessional Health Care Team Challenge on Thursday, March 14th at the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness.

Members of six teams worked together to establish an interprofessional patient-centered plan of care for a simulated patient and his family. Student participants were provided with the patient information and case scenario a week in advance of the event to allow time for research and preparation. On the day of the event, students were assigned to an interprofessional team comprised of one student from each of the participating Health Sciences and Education Departments (Education, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, and Social Work)

Teams were judged on the quality of the care management plan they devised and the degree of collaborative teamwork they exhibited. "The ultimate goal is for participants to gain an understanding of each team member's role, to develop an appreciation of how interprofessional practice contributes to patient care, and to cultivate attitudes and skills for effective teamwork," says Health Care Team Challenge Coordinator Brenda Guzic.

The intent of interprofessional education is to expose health professional students to the core competencies (communication, role clarifications, values and ethics, and teamwork) that are necessary for collaborative interprofessional practice. When students from two or more disciplines learn from one another, they improve health outcomes.

The Challenge Champions will have their names engraved on a perpetual plaque that hangs in the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness. Challenge Champions will also receive individual awards and be recognized at the School of Health Sciences and Education Student Recognition Ceremony on April 24th. A "People's Choice" recipient was selected by the audience and presented to the team they would "most like to care for them" if they were a patient. The People's Choice winners will have their names engraved on a plaque that will also hang in the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness. All participants received Certificates of Participation and participation gift bags.

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Students from the Education, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Public Health, and Social Work programs participated in 3rd annual Interprofessional Health Care Team Challenge. The goal is for participants to gain an understanding of each team member’s role, to develop an appreciation of how interprofessional practice contributes to patient care, and to cultivate attitudes and skills for effective teamwork while caring for a patient and their family.

Saint Francis University

Tom Havrilla (814) 471-1213 thavrilla@francis.edu

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