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Interprofessional education good for health care, optometry, patients
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Just the other day a long-term patient presented with acute onset diplopia. While her demographic profile and clinical findings were consistent with a subtle ischemic sixth nerve palsy, my differential diagnosis was complicated by a previous diagnosis of Graves’ disease-related orbitomyopathy. While her Graves’ was well managed, it did cause me to pause.
One on hand, my instincts favored a vasculopathic etiology, likely diabetes, while, on the other hand, I could not dismiss her Graves’ as a possible culprit. Of course, this did not even consider the myriad of other differential diagnoses.
As I evaluated her and collected my thoughts, two things were evident. First, and foremost, my patient was understandably upset, frightened and in search of answers. Second, I needed answers. Quickly.
Fortunately, having worked closely with her internist and a neighboring oculoplastic colleague through the years, we were able to parlay a few brief phone calls into an efficient plan of action. With the patient’s needs front and center, our goals were simple. First, recognize and respect what each of us had to offer and avoid duplication of services. Second, prioritize suspected etiologies and proceed systematically with only those tests of relevance. Third, keep the patient informed every step of the way. In short, we were able to provide efficient, targeted and cost-effective care ... all in the spirit of improving patient outcomes.
In retrospect, what was arguably an otherwise complex patient ultimately proved to be a relatively routine clinical encounter. As I have reflected on what made this particular case so manageable, I concluded it all comes down to one thing – collaboration – which only comes with familiarity, mutual respect and willingness to work as a team.
Unfortunately, in an increasingly complex health care environment this is not always the case. Most of us are far too busy – with patients and regulatory burdens – to forge relationships with every health care provider in our community. Additionally, there is the reality that most professions still do not fully understand just what other disciplines have to offer. Certainly, optometry has witnessed this through the years, as we are often perceived by others as refractionists and purveyors of eyeglasses. Finally, most providers – as a byproduct of their training – believe they can take care of it themselves, all of which has resulted in fractionated, redundant and costly care.
Fortunately, a health system-wide initiative is striving to change much of this. Recognizing the value of a collaborative team approach in rendering efficient, cost-effective, high-quality care, virtually every profession is embracing the concept of interprofessional education (IPE). IPE endeavors to place students from various health professions in classrooms, labs and clinics together. This cross-pollination allows students – in the formative stages of their training – to develop a better understanding of and respect for fellow health care disciplines. The hope is for a future generation of health care providers well versed in the importance of interdisciplinary care.
In this issue of Primary Care Optometry News, our feature article, “Interprofessional education contributes to better patient outcomes” provides an in-depth view of how optometric education is contributing to IPE. While effective implementation of IPE is a huge undertaking, I have no doubt it is a good thing. Good for health care, good for optometry and – most importantly – good for our patients.