Academics

Penn State Fayette develops interdisciplinary exercise for health care programs

LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. — Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus held an interprofessional education event on Nov. 8 to engage students in the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Nursing, and Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) programs in the comprehensive treatment of a patient.

The event was developed and facilitated by Pam Pologruto, associate teaching professor of PTA; Jo Ann Jankoski, associate professor of HDFS; and Melissa Miner, associate teaching professor of nursing.

Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, and Human Development and Family Studies students work together to treat a simulated patient. Credit: Penn State Fayette / Penn StateCreative Commons

Paul Coltus, a research technologist in the Academic Affairs department, role-played a patient in a simulated home-care environment. Students treated the patient for femur and rib fractures and a concussion from a fall, along with preexisting diabetes and bipolar disorder.

Interprofessional collaboration in health care has been shown in recent studies to improve patient outcomes, including the rate of morbidity and mortality. This exercise is the first of its kind at Penn State Fayette.

“Students had an opportunity to use the knowledge and expertise gained in their respective disciplines, along with collaboration, to assess and address the health care needs of the patient,” said Pologruto.

Last Updated February 4, 2020

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