Multimedia Tools for Interprofessional Education will Provide Excellence in Patient Care

Abstract

In health care environment, members of different professions will provide patient care and rehabilitation. Physician assistant (PA) and Physical Therapy (PT) students have previously reported that an integrated gross anatomy course provided an opportunity for a better understanding of the scope of each discipline. PA and PT students participate in an integrated gross anatomy course at the University of Kentucky. During gross anatomy dissection lab PA and PT students work in mixed groups to complete a regional dissection. In order to strengthen interprofessional education and communication between PAs and PTs in a gross anatomy course regional interprofessional modules are being developed. Interprofessional modules are designed to examine a clinical case in a particular region. Students will complete assignments and a mastery quiz that focus on how their respective disciplines will use the anatomy within a region to provide care for the patient described in the case. In the anatomy laboratory time is provided for students of each profession to teach the clinical case to their colleagues. PA and PT students who have an understanding of how each discipline approaches and contributes to a treatment strategy will be better able to provide continuing care for patients. The development of interprofessional modules will provide directed study that will strengthen this educational approach.