This lightening talk will present how Interprofessional champion faculty, providers, and students from across multiple Arizona State University colleges and programs collaborated to address gaps in knowledge, skills, strategies, and performance related to real-world, team-based care delivery. Recognizing persistent barriers caused by siloed training, the work group explored innovative learning delivery methods to transform traditional approaches to interprofessional education.
The result was the launch of the, To Empower and Mentor Interprofessional Collaborative Communities (TEAM-IPC) ECHO, initiative. This program utilizes the internationally recognized Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model—an institutionalized framework at ASU—for knowledge dissemination and collaborative learning. TEAM-IPC ECHO offers a sustainable, low-risk learning environment for students, faculty, and community providers, using case-based learning, interactive telementoring, role-playing, simulations, and reflective practice.
Held once a month, TEAM-IPC ECHO sessions engage participants in meaningful experiential learning that leads to deeper understanding, stronger interprofessional skills, and improved performance outcomes. Faculty providers from medicine, nursing, psychiatry, occupational therapy, dietetics and nutrition, social work, recreational therapy, and physical therapy contribute discipline-specific insights, collaboration techniques, clinical decision-making tools, and cultural competence training. Students enrich the learning environment by presenting real patient cases and offering reverse mentorship to faculty, creating a dynamic exchange of knowledge.
TEAM-IPC has held six sessions, hosting 25 faculty across 13 disciplines, and 76 students across 13 disciplines. Didactic learning covered topics of interprofessional collaboration, team communication, one health and equity-centered documentation, and six case studies developed by students ranged from supporting a student with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome navigating a demanding PA program to addressing caregiver burden and stroke recovery in a Veteran with complex mental and physical health needs. Feedback on session effectiveness is overwhelmingly positive, with 95% of participants reporting they were either “extremely likely” or “somewhat likely” to recommend participating in TEAM-IPC ECHO to another student or practitioner. On a 5-point Likert scale, participants reported a high level of agreement with the statement “As a result of today's ECHO session, I intend to integrate strategies that optimize a team-based approach to my practice,” averaging 4.68, indicating strong intent to apply interprofessional strategies.
The Project ECHO model has proven to be an effective, scalable platform for building interprofessional competencies, enhancing workforce adaptability, and promoting a culture of collaboration. Through TEAM-IPC, learners and providers alike are better equipped to meet evolving healthcare needs and deliver improved patient outcomes through integrated, team-based care.
