Educating the Next Generation of Physicians in Interprofessional Collaboration

Excerpt

Effective interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is essential for providing safe, efficient, and comprehensive patient care.1 This is particularly true in light of the increased prevalence and complexity of chronic disease, increased attention on improving access to care, and greater focus on patient safety and quality. In 2001, the Institute of Medicine stated that interprofessional team-based care would allow healthcare professionals to address these increasingly complex needs.2 Since then, we have seen reports that one doctor can no longer “do it all,” and that a team-based approach is central to a high-performing practice.3 We have seen the successful implementation of such models through patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations, and as physicians, we understand the critical importance of our interprofessional colleagues, in both inpatient and outpatient settings, for providing and coordinating care for our patients. …