Across disciplines, students at the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct (RHIP) are learning in a unique way to enhance collaboration and improve patient outcomes.
Traditionally, healthcare education operates in silos, with students from different disciplines learning independently. This isolation often results in clinicians having limited understanding of their colleagues' roles and responsibilities in a real-world setting. But, newly graduated clinicians are expected to communicate and collaborate effectively to ensure optimal person-centred care is provided.
Following a successful pilot study in 2023, utilising content adapted from the Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Eye Hospital’s ‘Delivering Person-Centred Comprehensive Care Program’, RHIP implemented a series of interprofessional education workshops for healthcare students during their 2024 clinical placements.
RHIP Interprofessional Education Lead, Zoe Kumar, believes this unique approach is bringing value.
“I’ve really enjoyed seeing students interact with their peers from other health disciplines and institutions and the sparks of learning that it inspires. The program is exposing students to other areas of expertise, giving them a deeper understanding of different roles and building relationships with their peers at the same time,” she said.
During the face-to-face workshops students worked through a patient case study. They outlined their respective responsibilities, established short and long-term care goals, discussed referral processes and documentation requirements. Students also discussed the importance of teamwork and person-centred care.
Student feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The session was run well because it was so interactive. The case study was really interesting as it gave insight and simulated working with other professions in a ward setting,” said one student dietician.
RHIP has held 14 workshops to date, with more than 200 students attending. Representing 12 higher education providers including UNSW and UTS, students from a range of specialties have participated, including nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, pharmacy, dietetics, radiography, nuclear medicine, speech pathology and genetic counselling. Published September 2024