WHAT IS THE IPDEU?
The IPDEU is an Interprofessional Dedicated Education Unit located on Unit 5G of UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. This project is a collaboration between UPMC and Pitt. Their goal is to provide formal training in interprofessional practice to students and practicing clinicians. All of the staff on 5G – nurses, patient care technicians, physicians, rehab therapists, social workers, case managers, unit clerks, pharmacists, physician assistant and nurse practitioners have access to formal interprofessional training. A subset of them have taken additional training to become Interprofessional Instructors, or IPIs.
HOW ARE PITT STUDENTS INVOLVED?
Up to 60 students per semester spend two (2) half-days with an interprofessional instructor (IPI) as they treat patients on 5G. The IPIs facilitate active observation of the principles of interprofessional practice as they occur in real time. Project leaders and/or Pitt faculty debrief the experience each day.
WHO DO WE NEED?
Faculty or graduate students from any program in the Health Sciences including Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant and Speech-Language Pathology, Medicine, Pharmacy or Public Health who can assist with the ongoing development of the project including recruiting and training IPIs, developing the curriculum, recruiting and scheduling Pitt student and faculty participation, and evaluating outcomes.
Faculty facilitators to meet with students for 30 minutes at the end of their half-day experiences to conduct debriefing sessions.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?
- Numerous opportunities for scholarship including program development, curriculum development, and analysis of program outcomes
- The opportunity to work in a collaborative setting to further the advancement of interprofessional education at Pitt
- A unique opportunity to work with clinicians and students in a real-world clinical environment
If interested, please contact Vicki Hornyak for more information.
This project is a collaboration between UPMC, Pitt's Schools of the Health Sciences and Pitt's Health Policy Institute.
2/15/2019