WSSU-WFUSM IPE Program Brings Together 239 Students to Collaborate On Simulated Patient Cases

WSSU School of Health Sciences and WFUSM Dept. of PA Students collaborate through Northwest AHEC on inter-institutional, interprofessional program which simulate management of patient care while integrating EHR Go software. 

Winston-Salem State University’s (WSSU) School of Health Sciences and Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSM) Department of PA Studies began a collaboration through Northwest AHEC to pilot a new inter-institutional, interprofessional program in 2021. The WSSU-WFSM IPE Series focuses on enhancing existing curricula by adding EHR Go software to the educational experience at both institutions. The partnership secured access to the case based, Electronic Medical Record learning software for students. Using EHR Go, student teams and faculty can preview a patient case in a simulated medical chart reflecting notes from various health professionals.

The collaboration involves the integration of the use of the EHR Go software into the curricula as well as an event that brings multiple student discipline groups together to review and discuss a simulated patient case. The simulated patient case focuses on many key aspects of the Social Determinants of Health. The event focuses on giving students the ability to collaborate as an interprofessional team in the management of a simulated patient’s care as well as integrating the use of the electronic medical record learning software.

For the 2023 event, 239 students from various disciplines collaborated on a simulated patient case including: WSSU Occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, healthcare management, therapeutic recreation, rehabilitation counseling/services, social work, and clinical laboratory science, and WFSM PA studies.

One of the students commented “I liked that all disciplines represented respected and honored each other's input, we were all contributing our thoughts and knowledge to help come up with solutions.” Another student commented, “I feel that my perception has shifted to a more positive point-of-view and now I value the interdisciplinary approach.”

For the 2023 event, a graduate assistant from the Winston-Salem State University Physical Therapy program was also utilized. She was a great addition to the planning committee, and it allowed her to gain experience in the program planning and connect with various discipline faculty.

“The 2023 IPE Event provided me with professional growth experience, as well as valuable student collaboration opportunities. As a member of both the planning committee and a participating student, I gained valuable skills including multi-disciplinary collaboration, teamwork, professionalism, and communication skills."
- Jenna Bégin, WSSU Student

Currently, post-event evaluations are being reviewed and we are hoping to gain knowledge on what went well as well as what can be improved upon. We are looking forward to seeing what the future holds for this initiative and how we can further utilize this resource into the curriculums of the interprofessional disciplines. This interprofessional effort has helped and will continue to help teach students how to effectively collaborate with a multidisciplinary approach and improve health outcomes.