In fellowship, one of the leaders at MGH used to quote Balfour Mount as saying, “You say you’ve worked on teams? Show me your scars.” Scars, really? Yes. I’ve been there. You probably have too. On the one hand, I don’t think interprofessional teamwork needs to be scarring. On the other hand, though it goes against my middle-child “can’t we all get along” nature, disagreement is a key aspect of high functioning teams. The key is to foster an environment of curiosity and humility that welcomes and even encourages a diversity of perspectives, including direct disagreement.

Today we talk with DorAnne Donesky, Michelle Milic, Naomi Saks, & Cara Wallace about the notion that we should revolutionize our education programs, training programs, teams, incentive structures, and practice to be intentionally interprofessional in all phases. The many arguments, theories, & approaches across settings and conditions are explored in detail in the book they edited, “Intentionally Interprofessional Palliative Care” (discount code AMPROMD9). Of note: these lessons apply to geriatrics, primary care, hospital medicine, critical care, cancer care, etc, etc.

And they begin on today’s podcast with one clinical ask: everyone should be a generalist and a specialist. In other words, in addition to being a specialist (e.g. social worker, chaplain), everyone should be able to ask a question or two about spiritual concerns, social concerns, or physical concerns.

Many more approaches to being interprofessional on today’s podcast. But how about you! What will you commit to in order to be more intentionally interprofessional?

If we build this dream together, standing strong forever, nothing’s gonna stop us now…

-@AlexSmithMD

Interprofessional organizations that are not specific to palliative care are doing excellent work

• National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education: https://nexusipe.org/

• National Collaborative for Improving the Clinical Learning Environment https://ncicle.org/

• Interprofessional Education Collaborative (home of the IPEC Competencies) https://www.ipecollaborative.org/

• American Interprofessional Health Collaborative (sponsor of the biennial meeting "Collaborating Across Borders") https://aihc-us.org/index.php/

• Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative https://healthprofessionsaccreditors.org/

This episode of the GeriPal Podcast is sponsored by UCSF’s Division of Palliative Medicine, an amazing group doing world-class palliative care. They are looking to build on both their research and clinical programs and are interviewing candidates for the Associate Chief of Research and for full-time physician faculty to join them in the inpatient and outpatient setting. To learn more about job opportunities, please click here: https://palliativemedicine.ucsf.edu/job-openings

** NOTE: To claim CME credit for this episode, click here **