WASHINGTON — The American Psychological Association has become a member of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC), signifying the spread and growing importance of collaborative health care in this country.
APA was one of nine professional associations added to IPEC’s six associations of schools of the health professions.
“Today’s announcement represents a significant and growing commitment across the health professions in the United States to make collaborative, patient-centered care a reality,” said Jim Diaz-Granados, PhD, APA’s executive director of education. “APA is proud to be part of such a diverse and comprehensive group with this shared mission.”
Interprofessional education occurs when students from two or more professions in health and social care learn together during all or part of their professional training with the object of cultivating collaborative practice, a key component of integrated, patient-centered health care.
In 2009, six national education associations of schools representing different health professions formed IPEC to promote and encourage efforts that would advance substantive interprofessional learning experiences to help prepare future health professionals for enhanced team-based care of patients and improved population health outcomes.
IPEC’s mission is to ensure that new and current health professionals are proficient in the competencies essential for patient-centered, collaborative practice. Eligible institutional members must be associations that represent and serve academic units at institutions of higher education that provide an educational program leading to the award of one or more academic degrees to students in one or more of the health professions that provide direct care to patients.
Founding members of IPEC are:
- American Association of Colleges of Nursing
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
- American Dental Education Association
- Association of American Medical Colleges
- Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health
In addition to the APA, other new institutional members include:
- American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
- American Council of Academic Physical Therapy
- American Occupational Therapy Association
- Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
- Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
- Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions
- Council on Social Work Education
- Physician Assistant Education Association