C-IPE team members presented three posters that highlighted the Center’s innovative approaches to interprofessional teamwork and community engagement.
The University of Michigan’s Center for Interprofessional Education (C-IPE) made its mark at the 2024 Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Forum, presenting three posters that highlighted its innovative approaches to interprofessional teamwork and community engagement. Held annually, the IHI Forum is a global gathering for healthcare professionals committed to advancing quality improvement and tackling healthcare’s more pressing challenges.
The three posters showcased innovative strategies in change management, community engagement, and leveraging health systems data, reflecting broader themes of teamwork that resonated throughout the IHI Forum. The team’s work underscores the importance of collaboration, a cornerstone of C-IPE’s mission to foster interprofessional education and practice to improve patient outcomes. Notably, the C-IPE wasn’t the only team prioritizing and talking about teamwork at IHI–it was an important undertone throughout much of the meeting.
Advancing the Quintuple Aims of Health
The first poster, Collaborating Across Academic and System Units to Improve Teamwork and the Quintuple Aims of Health, explored efforts to enhance teamwork across Michigan Medicine’s complex organizational structure. The initiative utilized Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model to align system stakeholders and foster change that will support the quintuple aims: improving health outcomes, enhancing patient experience, reducing costs, promoting provider well-being, and advancing equity.
Rajesh Mangrulkar, executive director of C-IPE, reflected on the experience. “This past week was a memorable one for our team at the IHI Forum. We left with a deeper commitment to building exceptional interprofessional teams, focusing not just on competencies but on enhancing social capital through relationships and shared purpose. A thought-provoking keynote reminded us of the transformative power of asking, ‘Do you want to be helped, heard, or hugged?’—a simple question that deepens human connection in healthcare.”
Empowering Community Engagement
Hannah Edwards, curriculum specialist for C-IPE, was the first author on the team’s second presentation, Empowering Community Engagement through Interprofessional Education. The presentation emphasized the critical role of trust, cultural humility, and collaboration in working with community leaders on interprofessional education. The poster outlined strategies for building sustainable partnerships, including flexibility and a nuanced understanding of community dynamics, to address health equity challenges effectively.
Vani Patterson, administrative director of C-IPE, spoke to the impact of these approaches. “How might we, as a catalyst for innovation and collaboration in communities and healthcare practices, help people challenge and reflect on their experiences to foster a culture of teamwork, respect, and love?” asked Vani. “This question drives our mission and highlights the value of interprofessional collaboration in building equitable and compassionate systems.”
By embedding principles of cultural humility into their work, the Center has fostered respectful and effective interactions that strengthen the bonds between healthcare providers and the communities they serve.
Leveraging Data to Enhance Teamwork
In Enhancing Interprofessional Teamwork by Strategically Leveraging Health Systems Data, the team tackled one of healthcare’s toughest challenges: measuring effective interprofessional collaboration. By analyzing employee engagement data, they have demonstrated the strong connection between engaged teams, well-being and improved patient experience. These findings highlighted the importance of investing in teams to drive better outcomes and enhance organizational success.
Building a Collaborative Future
The 2024 IHI Forum served as both a platform for knowledge-sharing and an foundation for future efforts. The C-IPE team returned with actionable insights and renewed enthusiasm for their work in interprofessional education and collaboration.
“This year’s Forum reinforced that the heart of effective healthcare lies in our ability to work together, not just as professionals but as people,” said Edwards. “C-IPE remains dedicated to fostering these connections, advancing teamwork, and shaping the future of health education and practice.”
As C-IPE continues to innovate and inspire, the center’s contributions at the IHI Forum reaffirmed its vital role in driving meaningful change in healthcare.