What is ID/IPE?

Interdisciplinary/Interprofessional Education (ID/IPE) occurs when two or more professions including the individual and family partner together as a team to learn about, from and with each other to effectively collaborate, investigate scientific endeavors, increase quality of care, and improve health outcomes. 

As a comprehensive academic health center, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences is uniquely situated to address concerns of both interdisciplinary and interprofessional education.  We are committed to engaging all learners on campus and chose to use the inclusive terminology of both Interdisciplinary and Interprofessional through the acronym ID/IPE.

While many definitions explore the distinction between discipline and profession, research and education, our goal is to equally consider each with an emphasis on all learners focusing on collaboration about, from, and with each other. Two of the more widely utilized definitions are provided here for reference.

  • The National Academies of Science, and National Science Foundation have an established definition of interdisciplinary research:
    • "Interdisciplinary research is a mode of research by teams or individuals that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories from two or more disciplines or bodies of specialized knowledge to advance fundamental understanding or to solve problems whose solutions are beyond the scope of a single discipline or area of research practice."[1]
  • The World Health Organization has established a definition of interprofessional education:
    • “Interprofessional education occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes. Once students understand how to work interprofessionally, they are ready to enter the workplace as a member of the collaborative practice team. This is a key step in moving health systems from fragmentation to a position of strength.”[2]

[1] Committee on Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (2004). Facilitating interdisciplinary research. National Academies. Washington: National Academy Press, p. 2 and the published full report: Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research, 2005, National Academies of Sciences, Chapter 2, p 26.

[2] world health organization (who). (2010). framework for action on interprofessional education & collaborative practice. geneva: world health organization. see https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/framework-for-action-on-interprofessional-education-collaborative-practice.

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Acronyms and Definitions

ID/IPE: Interdisciplinary/Interprofessional Education

An inclusive acronym used to signify our comprehensive programming available at the OU Health Sciences Center.

IPEC: Interprofessional Education Collaborative

This is the national association of accrediting bodies that sets our national standards and competencies.

IPEC Competencies

The IPEC Competencies are the national standard set forth by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative by which all health programs attribute their competency-based IPE curriculum. The four competencies are as follows:

  1. Competency 1 Work with individuals of other professions to maintain a climate of mutual respect and shared values. (Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice) 
  2. Competency 2 Use the knowledge of one’s own role and those of other professions to appropriately assess and address the health care needs of patients and to promote and advance the health of populations. (Roles/Responsibilities) 
  3. Competency 3 Communicate with patients, families, communities, and professionals in health and other fields in a responsive and responsible manner that supports a team approach to the promotion and maintenance of health and the prevention and treatment of disease. (Interprofessional Communication) 
  4. Competency 4 Apply relationship-building values and the principles of team dynamics to perform effectively in different team roles to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient/population centered care and population health programs and policies that are safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable. (Teams and Teamwork)

Link to the full IPEC Competency document: https://ipec.memberclicks.net/assets/core-competencies/IPEC_Core_Competencies_Version_3_2023.pdf

Suggested Citation: Interprofessional Education Collaborative. (2023). Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: Version 3. Washington, DC: Interprofessional Education Collaborative.

IEPA: Interprofessional Educators & Practitioners Association

The volunteer organization at OUHSC where faculty, staff, and students collaborate and guide the development and implementation of interprofessional programming. 

OIDP: Office of Interdisciplinary Programs

The coordinating office under the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs & Faculty Development.

Interprofessional

“Interprofessional education occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes. Once students understand how to work interprofessionally, they are ready to enter the workplace as a member of the collaborative practice team. This is a key step in moving health systems from fragmentation to a position of strength.”

World Health Organization (WHO). (2010). Framework for action on Interprofessional education & collaborative practice. Geneva: World Health Organization. See https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/framework-for-action-on-interprofessional-education-collaborative-practice

Interdisciplinary

Involving two or more academic, scientific, or artistic areas of knowledge: involving two or more disciplines. Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

See https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interdisciplinary

Transdisciplinary

Relating to more than one branch of knowledge.

Multiprofessional Education

Occurs when students from two or more professions learn/practice along side each other in parallel programming without interaction. 

Difference between "Multi" and "Inter"

Multi-Disciplinary/Professional is when learners are side-by-side, but not necessarily interacting.  Inter-Disciplinary/Professional is when learners are side-by-side and have the opportunity to learn about, from, and with each other.

Discipline & Profession Example:

  • Discipline: Rehabilitation Science
  • Profession: Occupational Therapy

Examples of what ID/IPE does not include:

  • Students from different health professions in a classroom receiving the same learning experience without reflective interaction among students from the various professions;
  • Interaction of an investigator with regard to data sharing or brainstorming with other colleagues on campus that does not include a combined set of goals or objectives agreed upon between/among the individuals on the team;
  • A faculty member from a different profession/research field leading a classroom learning experience without relating how the different modalities would interact in an interdisciplinary/interprofessional manner;
  • Participating in a patient care setting led by an individual from another profession without sharing of decision-making or responsibility for making patient care their own.