Interprofessional Education Between Midwifery Students and Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents: An American College of Nurse-Midwives and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Collaboration

Abstract

Despite areas of excellence, US perinatal care outcomes lag behind most developed countries. In addition, a shortage and maldistribution of health care providers exists. The American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) partnered to obtain funding to develop interprofessional education modules and other learning activities for midwifery students and obstetrics and gynecology residents in 4 demonstration sites. The multidisciplinary 2016 ACOG document Collaboration in Practice: Implementing Team-Based Care was adopted as a framework. Core competencies of values and ethics, roles and responsibilities, interprofessional communication, and teams and teamwork developed by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative were used to guide the work. Seven modules have been developed including guiding principles, patient-centered care, role clarification, collaborative practice, history and culture, care transition, and difficult conversations. Learners participate in laboratory and simulation activities and work together in clinical care settings. Stakeholder experiences as well as barriers to implementation are discussed. Learning materials and activity descriptions are open resourced and shared on a project website for use by programs interested in implementing an interprofessional curriculum. Ongoing formal evaluation including pilot testing of a program evaluation method is described.

Keywords: interprofessional education; midwifery education; obstetrics and gynecology residency.