Retrospective Study of Healthcare Resources Developed by Interprofessional Teams
Background:
The Wayne State University Interprofessional Team Visit (IPTV) program assesses adults age 50+ within the community. Disciplines include medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, dental, and social work students. During the 60-minute virtual visit, each IPTV team gathered information regarding the adult’s daily activities, nutrition, medications, family health, and social supports. Next, each team collaborated to determine current health status, identify areas of risk, and provide support and/or resources. This project focused on issues related to health and social needs amidst COVID-19. The purpose of this program was to educate students on evaluation of various aspects of a patient’s physical and social needs, and provide the patient with health and social resources.
Methodology:
Mixed methods study design was used to perform a retrospective examination of 28 IPTV resource guides. Patient needs were classified as either “Health”, “Social”, or “Both.” Quantitative methods produced descriptive statistics of patient need categories. Qualitative analysis, stemmed from Braun and Clarke (2006), was used to evaluate patient needs and create themes to make meaning of the data.
Results:
75.7% of patients requested a “Health” resource, 16.2% of patients requested a “Social” resource, and 8.1% of patients requested “Both”. Themes that emerged included CDC-recommended guidelines, reaching a weight goal, and how to safely interact socially during a pandemic. Emerging themes in resources included medication management, home diet and exercise plans, and the use of technology to stay connected to both physicians and friends.
Conclusion:
Overall, data suggests patients prioritized health needs in the face of the pandemic. Medical needs addressed chronic diseases, suggesting long term health was a priority. Socially, patients preferred social support, emphasizing the value of face-to-face interactions. As an interprofessional group, students offered solutions involving both clinical care and at-home remedies to make healthy living accessible to all despite limited access to resources.
Reflection:
A healthcare team is multidisciplinary and collaborates for improved patient outcomes. This program provided students with virtual opportunities to recognize patient needs, acquire resources, and work with a 50+ population to improve quality of life. The impact of COVID-19 forced students to think critically about social determinants of health as well as what needs and resources were feasible for each patient.
