Pioneer Valley Interprofessional Practice and Education Collaborative (PV IPEC)

About PV-IPEC

Established in 2013 by the Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield, the Pioneer Valley Interprofessional Practice and Education Collaborative (PV-IPEC) was founded in response to the growing recognition of the need for health professionals across all specialties and settings to collaborate as a team. This initiative is informed by the Joint Commission Standards and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC). Leveraging the strength of collaboration among health programs and institutions, PV-IPEC serves as a centralized, impartial organization dedicated to workforce development. It coordinates and manages financial investments and the collective efforts of faculty, deans, simulation specialists, and other healthcare professionals from numerous academic and healthcare institutions.

PV-IPEC’s mission is to lead, develop, and facilitate interprofessional healthcare education and practice among members of all health professions. This mission is driven by the diversity of programs and disciplines represented within the healthcare institutions of the Pioneer Valley. Together, the collaborative works to enhance the quality of care provided and improve the overall health of the community through purposeful communication among current and future healthcare professionals.

The ongoing growth of PV-IPEC is guided by the “Guidance on Developing Quality Interprofessional Education for Health Professions,” prepared by the Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative (HPAC), as well as Joint Commission Standards. Both HPAC and TJC underscore the significant impact of interdisciplinary practice on patient safety and care quality. The endorsing organizations of HPAC and TJC also serve as accrediting bodies for many of the academic programs and healthcare facilities that are part of PV-IPEC.

In response to HPAC and TJC recommendations, PV-IPEC has established workgroups to implement and evaluate activities that foster collaboration across disciplines, from foundational education through graduate programs and into practice. Through the alignment of programmatic resources, academic calendars, and interprofessional education (IPE) courses, PV-IPEC exemplifies a commitment to collaboration and coordination. Partner academic institutions, healthcare systems, and community organizations are required to implement a longitudinal, sequenced series of classroom, extracurricular, and clinical IPE learning activities. These efforts follow best practice guidelines as outlined in HPAC’s Guidance on Developing Quality Interprofessional Education for Health Professions and TJC standards.

References:

The Joint Commission. (2021). Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Hospitals.

Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative. (2019). Guidance on Developing Quality Interprofessional Education for Health Professions. Chicago, IL: Health Professions Accreditors Collaborative.

PV-IPEC Monthly Blog

Beyond Medicine: A Deeper Dive into Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health

Awards

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy – Excellence in Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Award – 2021 

Our Program in the Spotlight

• Stroke Onward 2023 Annual features Aphasia Virtual IPE Program

National Organizations

• The Joint Commission, a global driver of quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare. 
• Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Connecting health professions for better care
• 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