The Interprofessional Education Exchange (iPEX) project provides training and mentoring in the development of interprofessional palliative education in oncology to select faculty teams from institutions across the nation. Eight teams are selected annually based on a competitive application process. Each team must have representatives from at least three disciplines. Disciplines represented have included chaplaincy, medicine, music therapy, nursing, nutrition, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and social work. Each team is assigned a mentor with interprofessional education (IPE) experience. The program consists of two webinars: one introduces participants to the program, while the other focuses on overcoming team-identified challenges and facilitating leadership/organizational change. There are three online modules on creating interprofessional learning experiences, palliative care in oncology, and case-based online learning. It is a formative, experiential curriculum, culminating in a two and a half day face-to-face workshop. Participants learn and practice collaborative teaching/learning techniques, reflective activities, and facilitation skills, and work in teams to develop a plan for improving palliative IPE at their home institutions. Follow-up mentoring via videoconference calls and a final webinar where programs share progress and plans are also essential program components. Teams represent a variety of educational and clinical institutions (private, public, small, large, etc.) from across the nation. Projects developed during the program have included: workshops where interprofessional palliative care practices are experienced; certificate programs in palliative care; training programs teaching advance care planning and communication; and curriculum/courses focused on IPE in palliative oncology care. All are directed at interprofessional learners. Our abstract aligns well with the Nexus Summit theme of leadership and mentorship for IPE as our experienced faculty team is developing leaders in IPE in palliative care through mentorship and training. Pre and post-test quantitative and qualitative results demonstrate improvement in self-efficacy and IPE skills. Funded by the National Cancer Institute, R25 CA203637
Disclosures:
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Standards for Commercial Support, adopted by the Joint Accreditors for Interprofessional Continuing Education, the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education has a conflict of interest policy that requires that all individuals involved in the development of activity content disclose their relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. All potential conflicts of interest that arise based upon these financial relationships are resolved prior to the educational activity.
Barbara Head, Tara Schapmire, Jill Forcina, Meg Zomorodi, Paige Brown, Kae Livsey, Sarah Smithson, Gerri Lamb, Nina Karamehmedovic, Yvonne Price, Jody Thompson, Margaret Robinson, Denise Bender, Melissa Craft, Angela Harnden
declare no vested interest in or affiliation with any commercial interest offering financial support for this interprofessional continuing education activity, or any affiliation with a commercial interest whose philosophy could potentially bias their presentation.
