Interprofessional Learning - IPL

Engaging in IPL during your studies is therefore an evident strategy at KI, and students at KI participate in interprofessional learning activities together with students from other study programmes.

IPL occurs when two or more professions learn about, from and with each other in order to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes.

Why IPL?

The medical research, health and healthcare organisations of the future are becoming increasingly specialised, complex and integrated with other activities in municipalities, society and the business sector. The need for interprofessional skills will thus increase. In addition, there is an increasing need for competence in working preventively, cost-effectively, with patient safety as a priority and with a global health perspective.

Based on the individual’s needs and a culture permeated by the principles of people’s equal value and an enriching diversity, higher patient safety and more effective care, rehabilitation, prevention and health, and healthcare research can be achieved through interprofessional collaboration.

KI’s educational programmes will provide the best possible conditions for working within, leading and continuously developing activities in collaboration with other professions.

KI has an action plan for IPL within first and second-cycle education that was decided by the Board of Higher Education on 20/06/2018.

Interprofessional learning environments

Clinical interprofessional training wards, interprofessional training units at emergency departments and so-called student training units are examples of interprofessional learning environments where students of different professions learn from, about and with each other.

Other activities within clinical placements are also arenas for IPL when students from different professions have their placements during the same period and at the same unit.

Clinical interprofessional training ward (KUA)

At KUA, students from different professions have the opportunity to train their cooperation skills in order to learn with, from and about each other’s areas of expertise. The education elements at KUA are based on treatment, care and rehabilitation.

Students studying to become occupational therapists, physicians, physiotherapists and nurses carry out the training together over a continuous two-week period.

KUA wards

KUA Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge

KUA Danderyd Hospital

KUA Karolinska University Hospital Solna

KUA Södersjukhuset

Interprofessional training unit at an emergency department (KUM)

KUM are interprofessional training units established at the emergency departments of hospitals.

Students studying to become physicians, physiotherapists and nurses carry out interprofessional training activities together in teams over a period of two weeks. The students meet with patients with various orthopaedic/medical/surgical disorders.

KUM departments

KUM Karolinska University Hospital Solna

KUM Danderyd Hospital

Clinical Training Centre (KTC)

A KTC is a specially equipped department that offers simulation in clinical and communicative skills for students and staff within the field of health and medical care.

KTC-SÖS (Södersjukhuset)

KTC-DS (Danderyd Hospital)

KTC Karolinska University Hospital Solna and Huddinge

KKC Capio S:t Görans Hospital

Organisation

In order to coordinate and develop the interprofessional work within KI’s first and second-cycle programmes, the Committee for Higher Education has appointed two coordinators for interprofessional learning (IPL).

Furthermore, the IPL work is carried out in close collaboration with programme committees and departments responsible for the educational programmes, the Unit for Teaching and Learning and various groupings within Region Stockholm.

Programme level

In its strategy for 2010-2012, the Board of Higher Education stated that the interprofessional elements should be strengthened in the educational programmes. As part of this work, the Board made a decision on 24/11/2011 regarding shared intended interprofessional learning outcomes to be implemented in all programmes, the learning outcomes were updated on 07/02/2018.

Descriptions of the programmes’ plans, goals and activities within the IPL area are also included annually in the programmes’ operational plans and annual reports. In order to promote and support the introduction of these common IPL intended learning outcomes and learning activities, all programmes have assigned IPL promoter(s). The promoters collaborate in an IPL promoter network in regular meetings.

Each programme is responsible for designing learning activities and examinations within the programme’s courses so that the students achieve the IPL intended learning outcomes.

The assignment for IPL promoters is described in the action plan:

• initiating and supporting the establishment and follow-up of goals and activities for developing and implementing IPL within the programme
• reporting IPL activities and suggestions for improvement to programme management
• acting to promote IPL goals and activities in theoretical and work-integrated learning (WIL)
• acting as a resource and contact person in IPL-related matters for the teachers and supervisors on their specific programme
• collaborating with other IPL promoters in a network with the purpose of sharing experiences and initiating common IPL activities
• following knowledge development and research in the field of IPL
• contributing in study visits related to IPL

Collaboration

The regional ALF agreement signed by KI and SLL in 2015 states that the teaching in the clinical placements must include interprofessional elements for enabling qualitative targets and preparing the students for work in complex environments that require cooperation and collaboration between staff with different competencies. 

Creating, developing and maintaining high-quality IPL is a priority area for KI. It is a distinct collaboration assignment on several levels, ranging from management level to cooperation between individual teachers within different programmes.

Courses on IPL for teachers and supervisors

IPL methods and theories are included in the basic courses about teaching and learning in higher education arranged by Unit for Teaching and Learning. The Unit also regularly arranges a targeted IPL course for IPL promoters, and organises regular Stepping stone courses with the theme of IPL.

Networks and conferences

The Swedish Network for Interprofessional learning and collaboration (SvIPnet)

SvIPnet is an informal network aiming to support interprofessional learning and practice by collaboration with educational institutions, health care sectors and other stakeholders, in collaboration with users, patients and their relatives.

SvIPnet was established at the first network meeting in November 2018. Read more at the SvIPnet homepage.

The Nordic Interprofessional Network (NIPNET)

NIPNET is a platform for sharing experiences from research and development projects, and networking can contribute to promoting the development of interprofessional education and interprofessional practice in the Nordic countries.

NIPNET arranges biannual conference.

Read more on NIPNET’s website

Global Confederation for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (Interprofessional.global)

Interprofessional.Global facilitates support and exchange between the interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) networks, establishes relationships with other like-minded organisations and welcomes and supports new networks sharing the same aims and values. It also selects institutions to host future All Together Better Health (ATBH) conferences, overseeing the work of local planning committees, maintenance of standards and evaluation.

Read more on Interprofessional.global’s website

Conducting interprofessional education at KI

IPL Day

As part of KI’s action plan for IPL, a compulsory IPL Day for all beginner students takes place each semester.

The theme for the day is Health, and it includes morning activities for the whole group with inspiring and interactive lectures, and an afternoon of learning activities in interprofessional student groups of around 25-30 students.

Two facilitators from different programmes lead each group. The education programmes provide facilitators in proportion to the number of students.

Contact the IPL coordinators with any questions, see details below or visit IPL Day page.

Contact persons and IPL promoters

IPL coordinators, KI