Interprofessional Learning – Development and Implementation of Joint Medical Emergency Team Trainings for Medical and Nursing Students at Universitätsmedizin Greifswald

INTRODUCTION Interprofessional collaboration is of great importance in clinical practice, particularly in the field of emergency medicine. The professions involved in providing emergency care must work hand in hand, and tasks and routines must be coordinated effectively. However, medical and nursing students have only few opportunities to experience interprofessional cooperation during their formal training. Addressing this situation, the Department of Anesthesiology and the Vocational School of Greifswald University Medical School initiated a project to increase patient safety by integrating interprofessional human factor training into the curriculum of both health professions. This manuscript addresses how an interprofessional course module focusing on clinical emergency medicine can be taught with an emphasis on competency and problem-solving. In addition, it was important to identify suitable instruments for systematic quality development and assurance of this teaching and learning format. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The aim of the project, which took place from October 2013 to September 2015, was the development, implementation and evaluation of a simulation-based, interprofessional course module on clinical emergency medicine. Target groups were medical and nursing students. Modern pedagogical models and methods were applied to the design and teaching of the course content. The project was carried out in separate phases: definition, planning, practical implementation, evaluation and documentation. The project was accompanied by systematic quality development. Established guidelines for quality-centered school development were applied to quality development, assurance and evaluation. RESULTS Over two years, a 16 credit-hour course module was developed and then taught and evaluated during the 2014 and 2015 summer semesters. A total of 120 medical students and 120 nursing students participated in the course module. Eighteen teachers from medicine and nursing were trained as instructors and assisted by 12 student tutors. Regular evaluations focused on different aspects of the project, using instruments for empirical educational research. Excellent ratings given to the course by the attendees indicate a high degree of satisfaction in both participating professions regarding course design and content, as well as the quality of teaching. DISCUSSION In a position paper, the GMA committee on Interprofessional Education in Health Professions issued recommendations for interprofessional education. The recommendations given for teaching and quality assurance are drawn upon here, and relevant examples from the course concept presented. CONCLUSION The design of the course corresponds to the recommendations of the GMA committee on Interprofessional Education in the Health Professions. Based on these, and considering the satisfactory evaluations, both continuation and further development of this interprofessional teaching format are justified.