A Health Care Journey: Exploring Options Through a

Collaborative Case Study

Heather SandlinMoira Fracassa

Wayne State University

Detroit

Detroit, continued

Presentation Overview

• Case Study Model• Advantages and uses of Interprofessional

education and collaboration• Walk-through of the case• Applicability to other fields

EACPHS at WSU

• Over 12 degree and certificate programs in three areas:– Pharmacy– Health Care Sciences– Fundamental and Applied Sciences

Interprofessional Collaboration in Health Care

• As a professional enhancement tool– Team-based care increasing (team-based

everything increasing!)– Enhances understanding of other professions– Enhances respect of other professionals

• The patient– Improves individual patient care– Makes health care delivery more efficient

Interprofessional Education/Case Study Model

• As an exploratory tool:– Many students know they want health care. The

“Big Two” jump out at them.– Many other options in the health care realm with

a lot of variety. – Case study model provides a framework for

exploring them. – Students change programs after the case.– If they don’t, they are more confident in their

choice.

Advising and Recruitment Tool

• Informal advising about health care professions

• Introduce students to non-traditional health care fields

• Attract students to the College/WSU

The Case Study Model• Uses in EACPHS– Year-long case– Shorter formats

• Math Corps• Go Girls• C2 Pipeline• Apple Days/Community Apple Days

• Uses in other fields– Model is adaptable– Cases used in variety of fields

Student Feedback

• “I learned a great deal from all the presentations and I now understand how each profession works. Also, I enjoyed how the case study followed a logical progression (from diagnosis to death).”

• “It illustrated that multiple health care professions are responsible for the patient's care and the importance of communication between the different professions.”

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

42 year old Caucasian male smoker with a 5 year history of Type II diabetes presents to his primary care office with progressive fatigue and generalized weakness for the past 2 months, lumps in his neck and armpits for 1 month, and nightly fever, chills, and sweats for 4 days.

Assignment!

• Use form• Please fill in your information (for prize

drawing and for our information)• 10 spots: What 10 areas of health care do you

think Allen Apple will interact with on his health care journey?

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

1: Physician Assistant (MS)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

2: Clinical Lab Scientist (BS)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

3: Radiologic Technologist (BS)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

4: Nurse Anesthetist (MS)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

5: Pathologists’ Assistant (BS)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

6: Radiation Therapy Technologist (BS)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

7: Pharmacist (PharmD)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

8: Physical Therapist (DPT)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

9: Occupational Therapist (BHS/MOT)

Case Study: Patient Allen Apple

10: Mortuary Scientist (BS)

Applying the model

• A test!– How could you apply this model at your institution

and in your role?– Consider both within units but also across the

institution.

Business Example

• Residential Development Project would involve individuals from many disciplines.

• Members of the development team typically includes: architect, lawyer, engineer, development consultant, builder, construction manager, urban planner and service provider if the project is serving a special needs population.

• Using this sample could illustrate the usefulness of understanding the many disciplines that are interconnected in a business project.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)

• STEM projects focus on the four areas above. Students beginning in elementary schools are now beginning to learn about STEM fields through the introduction of STEM courses and projects.

• For example, math provides the foundation for physics—and physics, in turn, for engineering. Engineers can apply their knowledge of physics to make high-tech devices that are useful for testing theories in physics. Advances in physics may then lead to advances in engineering and technology.

Social Science/Education

• A school system and everyone that may be involved in an IEP case.

• For example, the classroom teacher(s), social worker, school psychologist, principal, parents, counselor and other types of therapists such as speech/language, occupational therapists, etc. All of these individuals from various professions would have to come together to develop a plan for a particular student in the school if warranted.

Resources1. Davies, R., Ellis, S., and Pinto, A. 2012. The

Impact of Structured Interprofessional Education on Health Care Professional Students’ Perceptions of Collaboration in a Clinical Setting. Physiotherapy Canada, 64(2), 145-156. doi:10.3138/ptc.2010-52.

2. Aschenbrener, C., Maine, L., and Wells, A. We’re All in this Together: Interprofessional Education and Advising Our Future Health Care Professionals. 2012. The Advisor, 32(3), 5-10.

Thank you for your attention!

Questions?

Moira Fracassa: moira.f@wayne.eduHeather Sandlin: hsandlin@wayne.edu