Pioneer Valley Interprofessional Education Collaborative (PV IPEC)

About PV-IPEC

The Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield established the Pioneer Valley Interprofessional Education (PV-IPEC) in 2013 to lead, develop and facilitate interprofessional healthcare education amongst academic institutions and service providers across the Pioneer Valley.

Healthcare professionals from higher educational institutions and healthcare facilities work together to increase interprofessional collaboration in education and practice settings.  PV-IPEC is dedicated to transforming the delivery of healthcare in the Pioneer Valley to an interprofessional collaborative approach and creating a supply of new professionals prepared to practice together as one team.

Projects and Accomplishments

• Interprofessional Elective Course Spring 2021 (View Student Flyer)
  Healthcare professional learners are expected to meet the Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice set forth by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC, 2016) to better prepare them for team-based care with the goal of improving patient safety and population health outcomes. This blended learning approach using both synchronous and asynchronous learning is designed for healthcare learners from the Collaborating Colleges of Greater Springfield (CCGS) to overcome common barriers to interprofessional education (IPE). Learners will be introduced to the importance of best practices for professionalism, roles and responsibilities, teamwork and collaboration, communication, ethics and interprofessional practice as a means to improve the quality and safety of patient care. We are inviting students from various health professions to participate in the course and earn 2 college credits.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Melissa Mattison (mmattison@wne.edu), Director of Interprofessional Education and Community Reach, Western New England University.  Please inform her of your decision to get involved by November 30, 2020.

• Featured on the Interprofessional Deans and Leadership Webinar.  The presentation was made by Beth Welch, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Western New England University and Co-chair of the the  Pioneer Valley Interprofessional Education (PV-IPEC).  Webinar link
• Annual professional development programs with participation of over 100 health professionals from Academia and Practice
  • Webinar: Reset and Restart! Restorative Self-care Virtual Workshop for Healthcare Workers (2020)
    • September 9th speakers: Melissa Mattison, PharmD, Michelle Mattison, PsyD, and Cat Powers, RN, BSN, MS, HN
    • September 23rd speakers: Beth Welch, PharmD and Cynthia Knapp Dlugosz, BSPharm, NBC-HWC
    • October 15th speakers: Andrea Bertheaud, MSN, RN-BC and Corey Scheer Laskey, PharmD, BCPP
  • Viewing of the “To Err is Human Documentary” followed by an expert panel discussion (2019)
  • Ready, Set, Action! Imbedding Interprofessional Collaboration into Academia and Practice  (2018)
• Pioneer Valley Interprofessional Education Collaborative (PV IPEC) Interprofessional Day for Students
• Report on An Interprofessional Student Viewing of “To Err is Human” Documentary Fall 2020
• Regional seminar for academic leaders hosting three nationally known speakers from the Interprofessional Education Collaborative, AACN, AACP, and AACOM (2017)
• Several interprofessional education simulations, class sessions, and events across institutions
• Revisions to health professions curriculum to include interprofessional education and collaborative practice competencies

National Organizations

• Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Connecting health professions for better care
  • Virtual December 2020 IPEC Institute
• Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative (HPAC) The Collaborative was formed to enhance accreditors’ ability to ensure graduates of health profession education programs are prepared for interprofessional collaborative practice.Guidance on Developing Quality Interprofessional Education for the Health Professions