Raising the Bar: Evolution of a Statewide Interprofessional Education Program Following a 5-Year Outcomes Evaluation

The presentation describes the process and outcomes from a 5-year review of the Indiana University Interprofessional Practice and Education Center and focuses on the transformative changes that occurred in the Center’s work as a result. The evaluation goals were to assess the existing university-wide foundational IPE curriculum to determine if student and faculty outcomes were being met and assess the effectiveness of the Center’s current organizational structure. The evaluation was conducted by the Health Sciences Evaluation Team (HSET), appointed by the University Clinical Affairs (UCA) cabinet and representing the eight IU health sciences schools. HSET objectives were:

1. Complete a formative evaluation with recommendations to the UCA on the evaluation of the IPE Center goal accomplishments including implementation of the first year of the IPE Curriculum;
2. Review existing data summaries provided by the IPE Center for each of the health science schools;
3. Solicit and incorporate feedback from current partners and stakeholders;
4. Develop and implement the formative evaluation approach, including structured tools to collect data and feedback;
5. Provide a summary report with recommendations, and
6. Identify and summarize IPE best practices from other Big 10 Universities.

The HSET solicited input from faculty and students in their respective schools through a standardized process and met bi-weekly to share information received, discuss emerging themes, and formulate recommendations for a final report provided to the IU IPE Center in Fall 2020. As a result of the emerging themes gleaned from stakeholders, seven major recommendations were generated. These recommendations and the specific steps undertaken to operationalize them into the Center’s work will be emphasized. This presentation will provide attendees insight into how the recommendations from an independent longitudinal review of the IPE Center facilitated transformational changes in the IPE curriculum and informed the Center’s future directions.