IPHC program launches 2013 cohort
Posted: February 18, 2013
As of January 24, the Interprofessional House Calls (IPHC) 2013 cohort was launched, bringing the number of IPHC participants since 2002 to 876 individuals and 292 teams. “The IPHC orientation session introduces participating students to important concepts in patient safety and the new national interprofessional core competencies,” said Trish Sexton, DHEd, associate dean for curriculum at A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Medicine (ATSU-KCOM).
“The interdisciplinary option (IPHC) within the House Calls program was created in 2002 in response to emerging national concerns related to improving healthcare and reducing medical errors,” said Janet Head, RN, MS, EdD, co-director, ATSU-KCOM AHEC and ATSU Aging Studies project director for the Kirksville campus.
The IPHC initiative was piloted in 2002 as a collaboration of the ATSU-KCOM Department of Family Medicine, Truman State University health professions programs, and the ATSU-KCOM AHEC program. Beginning with seven teams in 2002, the IPHC program has grown to an annual complement of 40 to 50 teams. Interprofessional teams comprise an ATSU-KCOM medical student, a Truman State University nursing student, either a communication disorders or health science student, and a volunteer elder from the community to serve as patient.
The parent House Calls program was introduced in 1998 by the Department of Family Medicine at ATSU-KCOM and has been facilitated through the ATSU-KCOM Area Health Education Centers office since 2000. Designed to provide students with opportunities to practice interviewing skills, learn about healthcare issues and assessment resources, and to establish a professional relationship with an individual from the local community, the program is increasingly engaging a broader range of volunteers from vulnerable populations.
Since all ATSU-KCOM students complete the House Calls assignment as part of their longitudinal patient care skills course, The Complete DOctor, those who do not select the interprofessional option work in teams with two other medical students and a community volunteer patient. Each student receives access to information and assessment materials needed to complete the four required visits during the 12 months of the program. Student teams work with the same patient throughout the year, complete a report on each patient visit, and participate in follow-up debriefing sessions.
