@article{168024b41c374462ab792c1b2ccde398,
title = "Value of Interprofessional Education: The VA Quality Scholars Program",
abstract = "Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) has been shown to improve healthcare quality and patient safety; however, formal interprofessional education (IPE) training is insufficient. The VA Quality Scholars (VAQS) program exists to develop interprofessional leaders and scholars in healthcare improvement. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of integrating interprofessional healthcare learners and designing an interprofessional curriculum for the national VAQS program. VAQS alumni (graduates from 2001 to 2017) across eight national sites (n = 102 [53.1%]) completed a web-based survey to assess alumni perceptions of IPC skill development during the program and IPC skill utilization in their careers. Alumni from 2009 and earlier were physicians; alumni after 2009 came from diverse health professional backgrounds. Overall, IPC and teamwork was identified as the most used skill (n = 82, 70%) during their career. When comparing the pre-IPE period and the post-IPE period, post-IPE alumni identified IPC and teamwork as the area of greatest skill development (n = 38). Integrating interprofessional trainees and robust IPE curricula enhanced an established and successful quality improvement (QI) training program. VAQS alumni endorsed the importance of IPC skills during their careers. The VAQS program is an example of how health professionals can successfully learn IPC skills in healthcare QI.",
keywords = "VA Quality Scholars Program, interprofessional collaboration, interprofessional education, quality improvement",
author = "Godwin, {Kyler M.} and Anand Narayanan and Kelley Arredondo and Miltner, {Rebecca Suzie} and Bowen, {Michael E.} and Stuart Gilman and Allan Shirks and Eng, {Jessica A.} and Naik, {Aanand D.} and Hysong, {Sylvia J.}",
note = "Funding Information: Supported in part by the VA Quality Scholars Program Coordinating Center Grant (VA Office of Academic Affiliations) and the Houston VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (CIN 13-413). A. Narayanan and K. Arredondo were supported by the VA Office of Academic Affiliations–funded Advanced Fellowship in Health Professions Education, Evaluation, and Research at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine. Funding Information: Funded through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA), the VAQS program is the leading interprofessional fellowship program in QI and patient safety in North America. Its mission is to “develop leaders, researchers, and educators who can apply the knowledge and methods of healthcare improvement to the care of Veterans and the nation.” Funding Information: The VAQS program was established in 1999 with a Coordinating Center and 6 program sites at academically affiliated VA Medical Centers. In 2009, pre- and post-doctorally prepared nurses joined the VAQS program as fellows for the first time, shifting from a physician fellowship to an interprofessional fellowship. Nursing faculty were integrated into the Coordinating Center and into each of the sites through financial support from the Quality and Safety Education for Nursing (QSEN) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All VAQS sites were subsequently co-led by a physician and nurse senior faculty scholar. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} National Association for Healthcare Quality.",
year = "2021",
month = sep,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1097/JHQ.0000000000000308",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "43",
pages = "304--311",
journal = "Journal for Healthcare Quality",
issn = "1062-2551",
publisher = "National Association for Healthcare Quality",
number = "5",
}