For Interprofessional Healthcare Month, we are highlighting individuals and teams across the University of Michigan community who are making a difference in Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Practice (IPP).
Michelle Pardee (U-M School of Nursing) co-developed the Interprofessional Community Health Collaborative (ICHC). The group gives students and faculty a variety of opportunities to work collaboratively across different health professions, providing requested and needed health education to members of the local community.
What does interprofessional teamwork mean to you?
Interprofessional teamwork means that every person on the team is valued and feels empowered to provide input to obtain the best outcome, whether that is for a patient, family, or community. Because everyone feels valued, they enjoy their work and being with their team.
What is a powerful example of interprofessional teamwork you’ve encountered or been a part of?
A powerful example of interprofessional teamwork would be when I was working at an adolescent health center. A distraught patient came to the front window and our receptionist immediately had the medical assistant bring them back to an exam room and let me know what was going on–they needed immediate attention. I was able to connect with our social worker and our community program staff so we could get the person the immediate care they needed. Everyone on the team put the patient first and brought in the whole team to help out.
Could you share some information about your work at West Willow and its impact?
West Willow as a community is underserved and there are multiple people and organizations that work together to provide the services and support that community members want and deserve. I work closely with everyone there to improve the health and wellness of community members.
Working with a community church and Packard health, we’ve been able to open a primary care health clinic for the community so that they don’t have to drive far for care, get connected to insurance and other resources that are needed.
There are DNP students that provide regularly scheduled chair exercise classes that started as a student project. Other student projects that continue to be offered are technology training and diabetes education. Most recently, a student conducted a community assessment to gather information from community members, community leaders, and both local and regional organizations to determine the focus for what’s next regarding programs and activities in the community.
I have worked within the community since late 2019, with time away due to Covid, but have been involved long enough for others in the community to feel comfortable to come to me with ideas. It’s a real honor to contribute to the development and implementation of programs and activities with the community.