What, why and how?
The Balclutha rural IPE learning activity is offered to small numbers of advanced-level students on clinical placement at the same time in the Balclutha area. Students are drawn from health professional programmes at the University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic and the Southern Institute of Technology. The activity is hosted by Clutha Health First, a community-owned healthcare provider, offering hospital, community and general practice services to the Clutha District.
The learning activity runs over about 10 days. It provides senior health professional students with a rural, workplace-based IPE opportunity centred around collaborative assessment of a patient with complex needs at the time of discharge from hospital, and for a few days afterwards.
In Week 1, students are inducted by the clinical team at Clutha Health First, participate in an interprofessional team meeting, conduct a comprehensive clinical assessment of an assigned patient, and meet as a group to discuss.
Ideally, students have the opportunity for a home visit also. In Week 2, students make a group presentation to their teaching team and other invited Clutha Health First staff, setting out their patient assessment and exploring aspects of collaboration and team dynamics.
Who are the students?
- Medicine Year 5 (Rural Medical Immersion Programme)
- Nursing Year 2 and Year 3
- Occupational Therapy Year 3
- Pharmacy Year 4
- Physiotherapy Year 4
Who are the facilitators?
- Members of the Clutha Health First clinical team facilitate the IPE activities
- Learning materials are developed with input by the IPE Centre and academic programme staff
- Students receive clinical supervision as is usual for their placements
Find out more
Visit the Interprofessional Education page
Email hs.ipe@otago.ac.nz