Rita
Morelli,
PharmD, BCACP, RPh
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Coordinator of Experiential Education
MCPHS University
Dr. Rita Morelli is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Coordinator of Experiential Education for the PharmD program at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She oversees clinical placements and partners closely with students and preceptors. She has served on the IPE Committee-Boston since 2017. From 2022 to 2024, she was honored to receive the MCHS CIPE Grant focused on improving oral health and medication safety for older adults in underserved Boston communities through interprofessional collaboration with pharmacy and dental hygiene students from MCPHS and dental students from Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
Background: Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), such as insurance status may affect patients’ access to care and health outcomes, however health professions students often receive limited training in how these factors influence team-based care. This study aims are to evaluate the impact of incorporating (SDOH) into interprofessional Team Objective Structured Clinical Encounters (TOSCEs) by comparing facilitator evaluations of team performance and evaluate how patient insurance status influences team dynamics. Methods: TOSCEs involved students from pharmacy, physician assistant, and…
Objective: This study evaluates how incorporating an element of social drivers of Health into interprofessional Team Observed Structured Clinical Encounters (TOSCEs) impacts team performance, collaboration, and communication. Methods: TOSCEs included students from pharmacy, physician assistant and nursing programs. Students were assigned a peer-evaluated standardized-patient case focused on transitions of care, 30-minute cases were run 16 times, with 2-3 students/case. Case A involved a Black patient, while Case B involved a White patient. All other aspects were identical. Facilitators…
Objective: This study evaluates the impact of age on facilitator evaluations of team performance during interprofessional Team Observed Structured Clinical Encounters (TOSCEs). Methods: TOSCEs included students from pharmacy, physician assistant, dental hygiene, and nursing schools utilizing paid actors as standardized patients. Students were assigned 30 min peer-evaluated patient cases focused on interprofessional collaboration in a medical emergency involving opioid use. Cases were run 16 times with 2-3 learners per case. Case A involved a young adult (Age: 25) and Case B an older adult (…
Background: Team Observed Structured Clinical Encounters (TOSCEs) involving standardized patients (SPs) are an effective way to teach and evaluate core interprofessional skills and support learning to improve health outcomes. TOSCEs provide a method of evaluating interprofessional skills in a formative, low stakes environment. TOSCEs provide valuable feedback to students which better prepare them in real-life clinical patient care. Methods: Pharmacy, Physician Assistant (PA), and nursing students participated. Medically trained actors were used as SPs. Students (2-3/group) were assigned to…
Background:The use of interprofessional collaborative practice simulations, enhanced by standardized patients (SPs), serves as a powerful educational strategy to assess and improve students' learning experiences, outcomes, and teamwork skills, ultimately preparing them for professional practice. This study examines the impact of integrating Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) into interprofessional Team Objective Structured Clinical Encounters (TOSCEs). It focuses on how SDOH considerations affect interprofessional team dynamics, as evaluated by facilitators. The study aims to evaluate…