Interprofessional Education (IPE)

Interprofessional education is when two or more disciplines learn with and from each other to strengthen communication, collaboration, and teamwork. There will be opportunities to work with students from other disciplines (Nursing/EMT/Paramedic/Radiologic Technologist/Physician Assistant/Community Healthcare Worker) at the College.

Interprofessional Education at Mercy College is designed to prepare students for the collaborative nature of modern professional environments. IPE aims to develop a unified and effective healthcare system by enhancing communication and promoting a culture of collaboration and respect among healthcare professionals, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for patients. Students learn the roles and responsibilities of the healthcare team and discuss how values and ethics influence the care they provide. With the complexity of illness and disease, collaborative practice is essential for decreasing medical errors and improving patient outcomes.

Types of IPE Experiences

• Disaster Day
• Opioid Crisis
• Communication Lab
• Telehealth Encounter
• Radiation Safety
• Disability Awareness
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Root Cause Analysis

Disaster Day in the News

IPE Mission: Interprofessional Education is an integral curriculum component in Mercy College healthcare programs to prepare graduates for interprofessional collaborative practice. Each student will experience the Mercy Difference through team-based education grounded in ethics, aimed at transforming healthcare by improving the quality and safety of patient-centered care.

IPE Vision: To cultivate leaders in healthcare who are experienced in interprofessional collaborative practice to improve health outcomes and the patient experience with community partners.

Introduction to IPE: Students are introduced to the importance of interprofessional collaborative practice and interprofessional education competency domains (Roles/Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, Team/Teamwork & Ethics/Values) to address the triple aim of healthcare.*

Exposure: Students participate in interprofessional activities in a variety of settings to develop team collaboration and skills in the competency domains.

Immersion: Students refine effective interprofessional collaboration and skills to improve patient outcomes.

Integration: Students demonstrate effective communication, collaboration, and teamwork aligned with medical ethics and core values of Mercy College and interprofessional education competency domains through multifaceted simulations and/or community outreach/service.**

*The Institute for Healthcare Improvement identifies the triple aim of healthcare as an approach to optimize health system performance. The triple aim includes improving the patient experience of care, improving the health of populations and reducing the per capita cost of health care.

**Mercy College Core Values include compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, sacredness of life and service.

Mercy College IPE Staff