Futuristic horizons
Interprofessional Education (IPE) increasingly utilizes on-line platforms, high-tech mannequins, virtual patients and other simulation technologies. Online patient records are an important space for collaborative practice (CP). New high-tech developments give us glimpses into how IPE and CP may be shaped into the future: care-giving robots, cyborgs at the reception-desk and telemedicine. Under this theme presenters are encouraged to look into the future.
Engaging policy makers and clients
The Sydney Declaration, WHO’s “Framework for Action” and discussions around InterEd closely linked the Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Collaborative Practice (CP) movement to such matters as health care and welfare policies, economics, trends in labor conditions and workforce regulation, and educational reform. However, do our discourses sufficiently include the views of stakeholders such as health and education ministries and other government offices, health insurance, professional bodies and health care and welfare service users? This theme aims for a dialogue with those stakeholders and to look at IPE and CP horizons from their perspective.
Reaching out to underserved communities
Beyond the horizons of the communities hitherto served well with Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (CP) and Education (IPE) there are places where CP and IPE could make valuable contributions if they were available. The GHWA (Global Health Workforce Alliance) and HGPN (Health Professions Global Network) are just two initiatives that deal with related matters. Important contributions are also made at various levels from WHO to overseas development agencies, from university departments to health care workers.
This sub-theme deals with issues of equity in IPE and CP, workforce development and so forth.
Diversity in CP and IPE
There can be many forms in which Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Collaborative Practice (CP) happen and how these are understood. This sub-theme aims to bring together IPE and CP developments in new spheres. Not to be limited to Japan or South-East Asia, presenters from other regions are also encouraged to submit, as well as presenters from the “established” CP and IPE spheres who have taken IPE and CP to new health care and social welfare arenas or who have developments to share that questions current understandings.
Disaster preparedness and management
Through the East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 11 March 2011 the world knows Japan’s vulnerability to natural disasters. Participants may also recall the major earthquake here in the Kobe-area in 1995. Around the world, disasters inflicted by climate change and other natural causes as well as man made crisis need to be dealt with. This theme aims to demonstrate how good collaboration and team work contributes to mitigating the effects of natural and man made disasters, both in anticipation of such adverse events as in the aftermath.
Developments, evaluation and evidence in Collaborative Practice
There are many projects and research being conducted that contribute to the development and establishment of the best possible Interprofessional Collaborative Practices (CP). Further inspiration can be found by looking around the world to find out about the different ways and shapes of collaborative practice. This sub-theme aims to bring together presentations about developing, improving and proving the sense (and non-sense) of collaborative practice.
Developments, evaluation and evidence in Interprofessional Education
Around the world there are many projects and research being conducted that contribute to the development and establishment of the best possible Interprofessional Education (IPE). Much of this involves innovation and challenges us to look at the pedagogy of IPE, including students’ and teachers’ learning, assessment, learning methods and so forth. This sub-theme aims to bring together presentations about developing, improving and proving the sense (and non-sense) of IPE.
Student events
Students are valued in interprofessionalism as change-agents and their contributions matter to further developments. We encourage student’s submission of abstracts of innovative ideas and projects. This sub-theme aims for events and presentations for, by and with students. (Please note that students’ abstracts that are relevant to the above themes and a wider audience should be submitted under the above categories.)
