UWL, Viterbo students connect for hands-on health simulations

Some of the UW-La Crosse and Viterbo University students in health professions who met last year to participate in a hands-on simulation to work collaboratively with goals of helping patients meet their health goals.

UW-La Crosse and Viterbo University students in health professions plan to make an “IMPACT” during an upcoming training.

The 7^th annual Interprofessional Model of Patient Care Training (IMPACT) runs from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, March 30, in part at the Health Science Consortium, 1300 Badger St. With more than 150 students participating, some will be at Viterbo University.

UWL students studying in the occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant and therapeutic recreation programs will collaborate with Viterbo students studying nursing, social work and dietetics. At both locations, UWL and Viterbo students will work with several different disciplines in simulated case scenarios with faculty serving as facilitators.

Laura Schaffer, director of UWL’s Occupational Therapy program, says the event allows students to work collaboratively with each other to create a plan for safe discharge for their assigned patients. Each case scenario, she explains, includes social determinants of health that complicate the case and need to be considered by the healthcare team.

During the annual Interprofessional Model of Patient Care Training (IMPACT) UW-La Crosse and Viterbo University students take part in simulated case scenarios to develop confidence in advocating for their professional roles to meet a patient’s need.

“In healthcare, it is extremely important to be able to work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals bringing your unique skills as a profession to benefit the patient and meet their health goals,” says Schaffer. “This simulation serves to educate the students on varying roles and disciplines they may encounter while working with a patient.”

Following the event, students will be better prepared for the professional world. Schaffer says students will have a better understanding of the roles of each discipline and be able to utilize their clinical reasoning to address the client’s needs as a team.

“Students will develop confidence in advocating for their professional roles and in referring to other disciplines to best meet their patient’s needs,” she explains.

Schaffer says the event is unique because of the collaboration between two local institutions as well as Scenic Rivers Area Health Education Center (AHEC).