Perspectives Summer/Fall 2016

COLLEGE OF HEALTH CARE SCIENCES • 15 The College of Health Care Sciences (CHCS) is committed to promoting interprofessional education through innovative teaching, research, and service activities. Following are some recent examples of CHCS interpro- fessional education activities that prepare students as leaders in team-based practice and interprofes- sional patient care. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology students worked together in a classroom activity as part of their pediatric coursework. Students were introduced to the importance of collaboration among pediatric therapists to provide integrated, family-centered care that maximizes patient outcomes. The students worked in interprofes- sional groups on case studies that required recognition and respect for each profession’s role; identification of diagnostic, environmental, and cultural factors; and development of integrated intervention strategies and family-centered goals. Faculty members from the three programs facilitated the discussions. The participating students reported that working together allowed them to understand similarities and differ- ences between the professions and the benefits of a team approach. CHCS students and faculty members took part in the annual Glades Rural Education Awareness Community Health (REACH) Fair in Belle Glade and Clewiston, Florida, with the purpose of providing much-needed health education and screenings to the culturally and socioeconomically diverse residents in the area. This year, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology students worked together in interprofessional teams to provide health screenings and education. Services included balance screenings and home safety education, child development screenings and parent education, and musculoskeletal screenings and ergonomic education. This interprofessional activity allowed students to work with one another and gain a better under- standing of the important contribu- tions of each discipline in the delivery of health care services. n Interprofessional Education Activities Promote Team Approach BY MELISSA M. TOVIN, PH.D., M.A., PT, CEEAA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, AND JACQUELINE REESE WALTER, PH.D., OTR/L, CHT, CEAS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology students work collaboratively on pediatric case studies.