This month’s Interprofessional Learning (IPL) Conference was an opportunity for students from Medicine, Dentistry, Dental Therapy, SAHPN and Veterinary Science to connect for an afternoon of collaborative learning around the theme of Patient-centred care and the MDT.
Year 4 Student Doctor and IPL advocate Emmanuella Adu picked up a prize at the event for best proffered paper, awarded by Executive Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Professor Louise Kenny.
Emmanuella Adu with Professor Louise Kenny
Emmanuella reports, “The IPL conference was an opportunity for students from across various healthcare disciplines to integrate, educate each other and discuss the future of healthcare. The event was packed with workshops such as VR Bomb Disposal, Cognitive Bias and Know Your Healthcare Professions, all of which were thought-provoking and innovative.
Healthcare students take part in an IPL-focused workshop
Combining novel-technology with ethical dilemmas demonstrated the dichotomy between progressive healthcare and its potential social implications.
The highlight of the sessions was the interactive debate about whether AI can improve patient-centred care, a topical conversation in the current AI boom.
It was interesting to hear the pioneering uses of AI in Stroke Medicine and Vascular Surgery as an adjunct to diagnosis, while considering the potential disconnect between patient-doctor interaction should AI be widely used.
Plenty of opportunities to network
As part of the conference, proffered papers were presented on topics ranging from acute dental pain to correcting strabismus by Optometrists, and I thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to understand more about the roles of MDT members I wouldn’t normally interact with.
My involvement with the LivIPL Podcast inspired my presentation on “Beyond the Differential: Interprofessional Humanity in Patient Centred Care”, which addresses the negative impact of passive, siloed working on patient outcomes and advocates for a more cohesive healthcare system that actively liaises with the various streams of healthcare that the patient needs to maintain a high quality of life.
In light of the NHS 10 Year plan, my presentation reflected on ways to make progress on a practical level: having a mutual understanding and respect for various expertise, acknowledging the effect of biopsychosocial factors in clinical management, and practicing clinical empathy to maintain patient- centred care.
For the coming year, I am excited to be involved in more IPL related projects as well as take part in simulation sessions with SAHPN students, which will be useful to practice MDT liaising and prepare medical students for work on the wards and in the community.”
Chinonso Nzewuji with Professor Louise Kenny
Student Doctor Chinonso Nzewuji also found the event really beneficial,
“The IPL conference was the first such event that I have attended, and being able to share my interest in anaesthetics and critical care with other professions was very rewarding.
What was equally as rewarding and interesting was hearing how other members of the inter-professional team utilise the common soft skills of teamwork and communication and putting that in action whilst playing KTANE!
It's not often that we as medical/health professions can come together to share our advancements and work alongside each other, and I found learning about (and working with) my future hospital colleagues really interesting.
Another thought-provoking workshop
Discover more
- Learn more about this year’s IPL Conference in this write up on the School of Allied Health Professions and Nursing news page.
- Head to LivIPL Podcast to check out the latest episodes from the award-winning podcast which explores the world of inter-professional learning through the eyes of academics, clinical professionals, patients, researchers and students.
- See how inter-professional learning plays a part in our simulation learning sessions and the wider MBChB programme here at Liverpool on the How You Learn section of our website.