Future Healthcare Professionals Collaborate on Campus

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Future healthcare professionals from three Dubuque schools collaborated with one another as they managed the complex, hypothetical healthcare case of Jake, a 16-year-old high school athlete who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) to his right knee. Students addressed the physical and psychological aspects of patient recovery as well as strategies for managing healthcare disparities and financial barriers in patient care as they worked through Jake's case.

The second annual Tri-College Healthcare Interprofessional Experience brought together around 80 students and faculty from the University of Dubuque's master of science in physician assistant program, Clarke University's doctor of physical therapy and master of social work programs, and Loras College's master of athletic training and master of arts in clinical mental health counseling programs. The event was held Tuesday, November 12, 2024, in Blades Chapel, Blades Hall on UD's campus.

"We want students to recognize how each professional role contributes to the comprehensive care of a patient and how the healthcare team can work together to provide our patients with the best possible outcomes," said Emily Appleton, MPAS, PA-C, academic director and associate professor for UD's PA program. "My hope is that these students are able to develop communication skills and knowledge of other healthcare professionals' roles, along with personal relationships today, that they can use in their future practice."

Abigail McGrain, a student in UD's physician assistant program, was grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with peers from other institutions of higher education in Dubuque.

"It's really cool that we get the opportunity for so many of us to see different faces and work together to learn because that's what we're going to do on rotations and in real life anyway so why not do it here in town," McGrain said.

During the event, students worked together in small groups of four to five different disciplines to complete Jake's progressive case study. They were tasked with recognizing each discipline's role and how they can collaborate to provide the best possible outcome for the patient with a treatment plan and recommendations for additional referrals. They concluded with small and large group debriefs.

"It takes a lot of concentration, because there's so many evolving parts to make sure everyone is on the same page and that you have the same priorities and goals for the patient," said Jack Haugen, a student in Clarke's physical therapy program. "That's my biggest takeaway."

Maria Klein, a student in Loras' athletic training program, appreciated the connections that she and the other students were able to make during the event.

"I've been fortunate enough to be a part of at least six of these types of events now. A big part that I take away now is connections, so getting to know Abigail, getting to know Jack, because I never know when I'm going to meet them in my future and need them on my team," Klein said.

Students are encouraged to think of the Tri-College Healthcare Interprofessional Experience not as a one-time learning opportunity but as a standard in their future practices. The inaugural event was held at Loras last year. It will be rotated annually between the three schools.

"It's really good practice for us," McGrain said. "... It comes down to the patient first and foremost. You know they're going to be seeing multiple people; you just don't always know who it's going to entail as their condition progresses. As Maria was saying, it is all about who you know. You need to build strong relationships and connections with your coworkers and your peers so that the patient receives the best outcome because their care is going to be distributed among different specialties."