In real world hospitals and clinics, patient care does not happen in isolation by one type of health professional, so healthcare education shouldn’t happen that way either. This line of reasoning is the driving force behind Interprofessional Learning Experiences (IPEs) designed to increase patient safety and communication between healthcare practitioners.
The MU School of Medicine, Sinclair School of Nursing and the UMKC School of Pharmacy collaborate to provide their students with unique and constructive IEPs. Spearheaded by Erica Ottis, PharmD, Carla Dyer, MD, and Gretchen Gregory MS(N), RN, this program engages over 500 health professional students annually in cross-discipline collaboration training.
Ottis, Dyer and Gregory created the Interprofessional Curriculum in Quality and Safety
to help health profession students learn the roles and responsibilities of other members of their healthcare team to enhance patient safety. Students also participate in the Error Disclosure Simulation and the Effective Pain Management Simulation so that they experience real world scenarios they may be faced with in clinical settings. The team has been recognized nationally and internationally by healthcare education associations for their efforts in enhancing IEPs.
One nominator wrote, “By taking the time and making the effort to create training opportunities that are inclusive of faculty and students from both UMKC and MU, they have enhanced the educational product and have helped the University of Missouri to emerge as a national leader in this arena.”
Erica Ottis, PharmD
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Dr. Ottis has been with the UMKC School of Pharmacy since 2009. She is a clinical assistant professor for the satellite program in Columbia. Currently, Ottis practices at University Hospital and specializes in Adult Inpatient Medicine.
Carla Dyer, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
University of Missouri-Columbia
Dr. Dyer has been with MU since 2004. She is a professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Child Health in the University of Missouri School of Medicine. She currently serves as the faculty director of Introduction to Patient Care and clerkship director in the Department of Internal Medicine.
Gretchen Gregory, MS(N), RN
Instructor of Nursing
University of Missouri-Columbia
Gregory has been with the Sinclair School of Nursing since 2005. She has 19 years of clinical nursing experience, most of which is concentrated in the acute health care setting. She is an instructor of clinical nursing, and her specialty is in cardiothoracic nursing.
Reviewed 2019-10-01