Interprofessional Learning

An internationally accepted definition of Interprofessional Education (IPE) coined by the UK Centre for the Advancement of Interprofessional Education (CAIPE) is:

“Interprofessional Education occurs when two or more professions learn with, from and about each other in order to improve collaboration and the quality of care”.

The aim of introducing interprofessional learning (IPL) to the medical imaging programme is to allow interaction between different professional groups so that students are prepared for clinical practice having gained an understanding and respect for each other’s professional roles, as well as reinforcing the principle that all healthcare workers share, namely the goal of patient-centred care.

IPL has been identified by the present government as a method by which interprofessional practice within the NHS can be improved, and at Exeter it is intended that IPL will encompass the educational spectrum from undergraduate, 'pre-registration' courses through to post-graduate and continuing professional development courses.

Ultimately, the aim of incorporating IPL at all career stages is to create 'separate but interdependent health and care professionals'.

IPL is an evolving and dynamic area of the programme. Examples of the delivery of IPL at each stage are given below:

• Stage 1: Students are introduced to the rationale and principles of IPL
• Stage 2: Students reflect on IPL with regard to their recent clinical placement and produce individual or group presentations which consider experiences of IPL.
• Stage 3: Students look at IPL from the perspective of management and the organisation, in the context of this programme the NHS.

In addition when on clinical placement at each stage, students engage with IPL in specific clinical settings. In previous years these have been as follows:

• Practice placement 1: Nursing placement
• Practice placement 2: Angiography/interventional suite
• Practice placement 3: The operating theatre

Future contexts may change as the programme evolves, but the aim remains the same, which is to offer students a chance to experience and reflect on IPL in action.