FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is interprofessional professionalism (IPP)?
The working group endorsed aspects of D. Stern’s definition of professionalism. The phrase “…aspiring to and wisely applying principles of…” best encapsulated the collective nuance of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. In this spirit, everyone involved in the patient care plan deliberately advances the value and contributions. The IPC defines interprofessional professionalism as "Consistent demonstration of core values evidenced by professionals working together, aspiring to and wisely applying principles of*, altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, accountability to achieve optimal health and wellness in individuals and communities."
*Stern DT. Measuring Medical Professionalism. Oxford University Press. New York, NY;2006:19.
What is the purpose of the Interprofessional Professionalism Collaborative (IPC)?
In March 2006, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board of Directors approved an exploration of the measurement of interprofessional professionalism with other doctoral professions. The purpose of the IPC is the development of resources for a toolkit, including a valid and reliable assessment tool for interprofessional professionalism behaviors, list of references, and related educational resources available for use by educators across all health professions.
What was the rationale for the selection of the participating organizations?
In 2006, with leadership of APTA, 8 health care associations and 1 health care assessment organization agreed to collaborate in this endeavor. At that time, it was decided that it would be important to start the process with groups having the commonality of being associated with clinical doctoral professional programs. Additionally, keeping the size of the group manageable to be productive and functional was considered. Three other professions with a clinical doctoral professional program; occupational therapy, optometry, and veterinary medicine, joined after the initial group had begun the collaboration. Other health professions were identified by the group that should be involved in the future and several other professions were invited to join the group; however, were unable to do so. Since 2006, input was solicited and received from health professions other than clinical doctoral professions.
How is interprofessional professionalism different from professionalism?
Expectations and intended outcomes for team care delivery, particularly in task or procedure specific setting, is fairly well documented with relatively explicit assigned roles. Similarly, all health professionals have discipline specific professional standards of conduct and ethical codes. Regulatory and oversight agencies have documentation and information sharing standards. However, much of this is unilateral at the individual professional level of required demonstration of due diligence. With rapid evolution and reform in the healthcare delivery setting, financing system, and healthcare workforce composition, students and educators need an educational framework that encompasses the dynamic interaction involved in providing inclusive patient care.
How does interprofessional professionalism measurement differ from teamwork evaluation?
Teamwork evaluation is a broader concept than interprofessional professionalism measurement. There are a number of tools available for assessing team performance. For example, Team Health Check is a simple tool with questions that explores purpose/direction, team leadership, understanding differences, processes, communication, and relationships. Measuring interprofessional professionalism will focus more on the consistent demonstration of core values evidenced by professionals working together.
How will this change the culture of education?
Health professions education has been struggling to identify what interprofessional professionalism is and how it can be identified. It is believed that this collaboration, by providing a definition of and a vision for interprofessional professionalism along with a measurement tool, will promote a culture which values, fosters, and respects both individual competence and interprofessional collaboration. Additionally, quality healthcare outcomes will be enhanced as improvement in the practice and academic environments occur.
How is effective interprofessional professionalism expected to change practice?
Interprofessional professionalism will contribute to the health of society and advance the Triple Aim, a framework that describes an approach to optimizing health system performance including, 1) improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction), 2) improving the health of populations; and 3) reducing the per capita cost of health care.
Are the IPP behaviors finalized?
Yes. The behaviors for the Interprofessional Professionalism Assessment (IPA) instrument were finalized in 2013.
What is the Interprofessional Professional Assessment (IPA) instrument?
Learn more about the IPA instrument on the assessment webpage.
Is the IPA instrument published and available?
No. The IPC is currently preparing a manuscript for publication and it will be available to the public shortly after that time.
How do I cite or provide attribution for this work?
Interprofessional Professionalism Collaborators. (2016). Interprofessional Professionalism Behaviors. Alexandria, VA: Interprofessional Professionalism Collaborative. http://www.interprofessionalprofessionalism.org/
How can I contribute?
You can contribute to the IPC’s work in numerous ways:
The working group endorsed aspects of D. Stern’s definition of professionalism. The phrase “…aspiring to and wisely applying principles of…” best encapsulated the collective nuance of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. In this spirit, everyone involved in the patient care plan deliberately advances the value and contributions. The IPC defines interprofessional professionalism as "Consistent demonstration of core values evidenced by professionals working together, aspiring to and wisely applying principles of*, altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, accountability to achieve optimal health and wellness in individuals and communities."
*Stern DT. Measuring Medical Professionalism. Oxford University Press. New York, NY;2006:19.
What is the purpose of the Interprofessional Professionalism Collaborative (IPC)?
In March 2006, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Board of Directors approved an exploration of the measurement of interprofessional professionalism with other doctoral professions. The purpose of the IPC is the development of resources for a toolkit, including a valid and reliable assessment tool for interprofessional professionalism behaviors, list of references, and related educational resources available for use by educators across all health professions.
What was the rationale for the selection of the participating organizations?
In 2006, with leadership of APTA, 8 health care associations and 1 health care assessment organization agreed to collaborate in this endeavor. At that time, it was decided that it would be important to start the process with groups having the commonality of being associated with clinical doctoral professional programs. Additionally, keeping the size of the group manageable to be productive and functional was considered. Three other professions with a clinical doctoral professional program; occupational therapy, optometry, and veterinary medicine, joined after the initial group had begun the collaboration. Other health professions were identified by the group that should be involved in the future and several other professions were invited to join the group; however, were unable to do so. Since 2006, input was solicited and received from health professions other than clinical doctoral professions.
How is interprofessional professionalism different from professionalism?
Expectations and intended outcomes for team care delivery, particularly in task or procedure specific setting, is fairly well documented with relatively explicit assigned roles. Similarly, all health professionals have discipline specific professional standards of conduct and ethical codes. Regulatory and oversight agencies have documentation and information sharing standards. However, much of this is unilateral at the individual professional level of required demonstration of due diligence. With rapid evolution and reform in the healthcare delivery setting, financing system, and healthcare workforce composition, students and educators need an educational framework that encompasses the dynamic interaction involved in providing inclusive patient care.
- Professionalism speaks to the values and expectations inculcated in the individual.
- Interprofessional professionalism considers the reciprocal collaborative elements at work in a holistic patient-centered model of care, where not only each individual must execute his or her particular role, but all involved need to function as a comprehensive unit to ensure information, expertise, and iterative improvement advance the quality and safety experience of the patient and the system in which care is developed and delivered.
How does interprofessional professionalism measurement differ from teamwork evaluation?
Teamwork evaluation is a broader concept than interprofessional professionalism measurement. There are a number of tools available for assessing team performance. For example, Team Health Check is a simple tool with questions that explores purpose/direction, team leadership, understanding differences, processes, communication, and relationships. Measuring interprofessional professionalism will focus more on the consistent demonstration of core values evidenced by professionals working together.
How will this change the culture of education?
Health professions education has been struggling to identify what interprofessional professionalism is and how it can be identified. It is believed that this collaboration, by providing a definition of and a vision for interprofessional professionalism along with a measurement tool, will promote a culture which values, fosters, and respects both individual competence and interprofessional collaboration. Additionally, quality healthcare outcomes will be enhanced as improvement in the practice and academic environments occur.
How is effective interprofessional professionalism expected to change practice?
Interprofessional professionalism will contribute to the health of society and advance the Triple Aim, a framework that describes an approach to optimizing health system performance including, 1) improving the patient experience of care (including quality and satisfaction), 2) improving the health of populations; and 3) reducing the per capita cost of health care.
Are the IPP behaviors finalized?
Yes. The behaviors for the Interprofessional Professionalism Assessment (IPA) instrument were finalized in 2013.
What is the Interprofessional Professional Assessment (IPA) instrument?
Learn more about the IPA instrument on the assessment webpage.
Is the IPA instrument published and available?
No. The IPC is currently preparing a manuscript for publication and it will be available to the public shortly after that time.
How do I cite or provide attribution for this work?
Interprofessional Professionalism Collaborators. (2016). Interprofessional Professionalism Behaviors. Alexandria, VA: Interprofessional Professionalism Collaborative. http://www.interprofessionalprofessionalism.org/
How can I contribute?
You can contribute to the IPC’s work in numerous ways:
- Send additional resources or references.
- Share your experiences in using the current list of behaviors in your practice or academic institution.
- Share the IPC website and resources with your colleagues.
- Demonstrate interprofessional professionalism in your practice or educational setting.
- Encourage your students and colleagues to demonstrate interprofessional professionalism.