Educating for collaborative practice.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a baccalaureate-level course which is designed to help allied health professions students develop an understanding of collaborative practice among interdisciplinary components of a health care system and to report on a survey which assessed the effectiveness of the course for clinical laboratory science graduates.


METHODS
University of Kentucky, a large (24,000 students) state-assisted institution


METHODS
Baccalaureate clinical laboratory science program


METHODS
A college-wide course helps students develop an understanding of the linkages of the major components of a health care system and introduces the techniques necessary to function in an interdisciplinary team.


METHODS
Perception of benefit from the course by clinical laboratory science graduates.


RESULTS
Graduates report that the course helped them develop a larger perspective of health care delivery beyond that of their own discipline and aided in their understanding of group processes and group problem-solving.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical laboratory science curricula can benefit from the inclusion of a college wide course which introduces a broad perspective of health care delivery and group process concepts.
Brickell
J
J
Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Kentucky Center for Rural Health, Hazard 41701, USA. jmbric@pop.uky.edu
Huff
F
F
Fraley
T
T
D000488:Allied Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D006126:Group Processes; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007629:Kentucky; D010348:Patient Care Team