Understanding interprofessional education (IPE) in the context of oral health: A description of an IPE approach of training healthcare providers

Clear communication among healthcare providers is essential in providing sound patient care and is the gold standard in achieving favorable patient outcomes. Care occurring in professional silos, however, leads to inadequate communication, poor coordination of care and patient outcomes, and increased healthcare costs. Interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional education (IPE) among disciplines is a recognized solution to address the gaps and improve patient outcomes. A course combining students from nursing, dentistry and dental hygiene programs to identify the oral and systemic health care links and increase their awareness during patient evaluation and care is an approach to develop and reinforce interprofessional collaboration strategies. Additionally, students learn the roles and foci of the other professions while developing referral resources. Focused didactic and clinical learning experiences, integrating varied technological approaches, educates these future health care providers to implement collaborative, evidence-based and comprehensive health care of underserved and diverse patient populations across the lifespan. This introduction of IPE to professional students assists in dispelling professional role myths, bridges the communication gaps across professions and builds a mutual respect among practitioners. Health care graduates can continue all of these IPE skills into their professional practice upon graduation, leading to the best outcomes for patient oral and systemic care.