title: Priorities, strategies, and accountability measures in interprofessional education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this pilot study was to identify the priorities, strategies, and accountability measures for interprofessional education (IPE) being used by health professions programs, allied health colleges, and/or universities.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic survey was sent to 114 deans, associate deans, and directors (program, clinical education, graduate studies) at six institutions with allied health programs, including three academic medical centers and three comprehensive public institutions. The survey consisted of basic demographic questions and questions assessing knowledge of the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) concepts of IPE, program-specific accreditation requirements for IPE, and institutional priorities, strategies, and accountability measures for IPE activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An overall response rate of 50% (57/114) was achieved with representation from a total of 34 different allied health programs. Chi-squared statistics showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between the frequencies of survey responses and institutional types in the inclusion of IPE in the college/school's vision, the physical space available to accommodate IPE needs, and the commitment to set aside time for IPE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that there is not a clear mandate or direction from most allied health disciplinary accrediting bodies for IPE. While there appears to be distinct movement by institutions to hold programs accountable for IPE and to integrate IPE into the curricula, barriers remain that have slowed the desired degree of implementation of an interprofessional curricula. While institutions, college, and/or programs may be slow to formally include IPE in its vision, this study found that, in general, support is being provided for IPE activities.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Health Professions, 4301 W. Markham Street, #619, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA. Tel 501-686-6854, fax 501-686-6855. LongSusanL@uams.edu.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: Bradford W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Conner-Kerr
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Cada
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hogan
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000068:Accreditation; D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000193:education; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D058025:Interdisciplinary Studies; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States