Interprofessional Learning Exchange and Development Center (I•LEAD)

Theme: Interprofessional Education and Teamwork

Institution: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Nursing

Grant Type: Board Grant

Award Amount: $640,000

Grant Awarded: May 2010

Principal Investigator: Daniel B. Ornt, MD, FACP and Patricia W. Underwood, BSN, MS, PhD

Grant Description

High-performing patient-centered teams are critical to providing healthcare that is safe, effective, efficient, personalized, timely, and equitable. The Institute of Medicine (2001) suggests that preparing patient-centered teams begin in health-professions education by focusing on the six quality outcomes, teaching evidence-based practice, and providing more opportunities for interdisciplinary training. Research evidence supports the outcomes of interdisciplinary teams in decreasing care costs and in increasing patient safety and satisfaction with care (ION, 2001; Allen, Penn, and Nora, 2006). Although an increasing number of universities have responded to the call for interdisciplinary education by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and nursing (American Nurses Association, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National League for Nursing) and medical (American Medical Association) associations, the education provided has largely been episodic – single collaborative experiences at some point in the curricula of the involved professions.

This project proposed by the Schools of Nursing and Medicine of Case Western Reserve University will take a more unique approach to collaborative learning experiences that will extend and build across curricula. These collaborative learning experiences will prepare the students for, and develop competence in, collaborative practice whether in acute, long-term, or community care settings. Real-life learning labs will be used in which communication, teamwork, and quality improvement skills will be taught and instilled through practice. The learning labs will then provide the foundation for educating students who will be ready to work in a collaborative practice setting in the community. The medical and nursing students will work with an underserved population in the Cleveland Free Clinic.

In addition to building a collaborative, comprehensive, and continuous interprofessional curriculum, this project will establish a virtual center to support ongoing faculty development related to interprofessional practice and curricular evaluation and enhancement. The Interprofessional•Learning Exchange and Development (I•LEAD) Center will provide access to evidence supporting interprofessional education (IPE) and practice, programs and materials developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative, and education and practice evaluation tools.