Journal of interprofessional care
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The objective of our study was to propose an innovative applied health undergraduate curriculum model that uses simulation and interprofessional education to facilitate students' integration of both technical and "humanistic" core skills. The model incorporates assessment of student readiness for clinical education and readiness for professional practice in a collaborative, team-based, patient-centred environment. Improving the education of health care professionals is a critical contributor to ultimately improving patient care and outcomes. ⋯ Construct validation of clinical readiness will continue through primary research at The Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences. As the new educational model is implemented, its impact will be assessed and documented using specific outcomes measurements. Appropriate modifications to the model will be made to ensure improvement and further applicability to an undergraduate medical curriculum.
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To understand trends in emergency medicine and interprofessional roles in delivering this care, we analyzed a 10-year period (1995-2004) by provider, patient characteristics, and diagnoses. The focus was on how doctors, physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) share emergency medicine visits. The National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey of over 1 billion "weighted" emergency room visits for 1995 to 2004 was analyzed. ⋯ Expansion of the roles and interprofessional care provided by NPs and PAs include increasing acceptance, clarification of legal and regulatory aspects of practice, shared roles, team approaches to shortages of fully-trained doctors, and the limitation of working hours of physician postgraduate trainees. The US forecast for emergency department visits is expected to outpace the growth of the population and the supply of emergency medicine providers. In view of an increasing emergency medical demand and a continuing shortage of physician personnel, policies are needed for workforce planning to meet the demand.