Despite the reality of teams of health providers working together in practice, doctors, nurses, and other medical workers are mostly educated separately.

The Association of American Medical Colleges has long called for the improvement of interprofessional training, but earlier this month became part of a coalition that published two reports intending to start the process. The first report identifies the core competencies necessary for students to work effectively across the professions. The second identified specifically team-based competencies and explored strategies to expand team-based learning, including facilitating the collaboration of academic deans, government agencies, and other health care leaders. According to the reports, team training will lead to “better health outcomes, improved patient experiences of care, improved efficiency and increased job satisfaction.”
Read the AAMC reports here: Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (aamc.org)

and here: Team Based Competencies: Building a shared Foundation for Education and Clinical Practice (aamc.org)

Read a press release from the AAMC here: Health Educators, Foundations Announce Competencies and Action Strategies for Interprofessional Education (medicalnewstoday.com)

and more here: Education for the Emergency Room (insidehighered.com)

Tell us what you think. How best should collaborative training across health professions be accomplished? Do you agree with the listed competencies? What are the best strategies for team based learning?