Fostering collaboration among healthcare professionals
October, 2013
Students of WCMC-Q, Qatar University School of Pharmacy, the College of the North Atlantic – Qatar and the University of Calgary – Qatar worked together during the two-day Inter-Professional Education workshop.
Four Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) students took part in an Inter-Professional Education (IPE) workshop alongside students from Doha’s leading medical training institutions.
The two-day workshop brought together students from WCMC-Q, Qatar University School of Pharmacy, the College of the North Atlantic – Qatar and the University of Calgary - Qatar (UC-Q), which hosted the event on 4-5 October.
The WCMC-Q medical students who volunteered to take part in the course were fourth-years Aicha Mahoudhi and Abdulwahed Zainel, third-year Hala Omar and second-year Sally Elgazar. All four of the students received certificates of completion, joining third-year student Tarek Elshazly who completed the course earlier this year.
The IPE workshop program is part of a three-year research project sponsored by Qatar Foundation’s National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) entitled Implementing Inter-Professional Undergraduate Health Professional Programs Health Care Education in Qatar. The project aims to foster a collaborative, patient-centered approach to healthcare in Qatar by working with future healthcare professionals while they are completing their studies. Dr. Mohamud Verjee, assistant professor of family medicine at WCMC-Q, is part of the research team along with UC-Q faculty Dr. Brad Johnson and Dr. Kim Critchley, dean of the university.
Dr. Verjee explained the background and aims of the research project.
He said: “Traditionally, the practice of medicine has followed a patriarchal, top-down management style, with the doctor at the top and each part of the care-giving team somewhat isolated from one another in his or her own area of operation.
“This model can be inefficient because if each member of the care team does not fully understand the roles of his or her fellow professionals, the risk that elements of the care package will be neglected or duplicated increases. Not only does this cause inefficiency, it is potentially very dangerous for the patient.
“It is also important that doctors realize that other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists and so on, are highly trained in their specific fields and that doctors can and should draw upon their skills and knowledge to better serve the patient.”
Dr. Verjee added: “The aim of the IPE workshop is to give the next generation of healthcare professionals a forum to meet one another and discover areas and methods for collaboration. As Qatar’s healthcare system develops, it is important that our students become familiar with this new model of care delivery, with a view to future integration of allied health services to enhance efficiency and ultimately benefit patient care.”
Dr. Verjee urged all WCMC-Q students to take part in the next IPE workshop, which will be held in November 2013. To register for the workshop, contact Dr. Verjee via mov2002@qatar-med.cornell.edu or on 4492 8366.
