Perspectives Summer/Fall 2016

28 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Working together both interprofessionally and intrapro- fessionally will be a crucial element of effective health care in the future. To ensure quality client care, the intraprofessional relationship between the occupational therapist (OT) and the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) must be close-knit, with each OT practitioner depending on the other. In an effort to foster this relationship, the occupational therapy faculty members and students of NSU and Keiser University joined forces for an intraprofessional day event, which was collaboratively planned and imple- mented to give students an opportunity to practice intraprofessional collaboration and understanding. The event began with breakfast to provide the students with an opportunity to learn more about their respective programs and mix and mingle. After an educational icebreaker, students worked together in collaborative OT/ OTA teams to develop OT goals and interventions for mental health, adult physical disabilities, and pediatric case studies across the continuum of care. Faculty members from both universities supervised the interactions so that all students felt supported and comfortable. The case-study activity facilitated student engagement, lively discussion, and the discovery that working intraprofessionally was less complicated than working interprofessionally. One OT student commented, “It was really nice being on the same page as our team members. We didn’t need to explain our perspective; it was understood.” The students also learned some important lessons related to building professional relationships, respectful interaction, and effective communication. In one instance, there was a disagreement between the OTA and OT faculty members and students. According to one participant, the importance of effective communica- tion was paramount to the collaborative process. “We found that we [OTs] were writing goals that were too specific and that we were tying their [OTAs] hands and forcing them to be very limited in their practice.” The collaborative nature of the session exceeded expecta- tions, allowing both students and faculty members to value this special opportunity to connect on a personal and professional level. n Intraprofessional Day Provides Collaborative Learning Opportunities Occupational Therapy FORT LAUDERDALE From left: OTA student Victor Flores; OT student Giselle Alvarez; Sonia F. Kay, Ph.D., OTR/L; and OT students Kim-Oanh Le and Brittany Augustin collaborate on a case study. BY SONIA F. KAY, PH.D., OTR/L, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR