Transcultural healthcare immersion: A unique interprofessional experience poised to influence collaborative practice in cultural settings

摘要

Objective: This paper describes a model for interprofessional and transcultural learning established by the author andnsupported by the University of New England and Ghana Health Mission, Inc. The Model for Interprofessional Immersion innCultural Settings [1] represents a guiding framework predicated on a conceptual “brick and mortar” process for building culturalnproficiency among individuals and within teams. It encompasses social, clinical and behavioral components (brick) and personalndesire, cultural humility and values (mortar). The “bounty” aspect of the model is achieved by way of successful student learningnoutcomes, positive interprofessional and community-based collaborations, and finally, and to be measured over time, favorablenpatient and population (programmatic) outcomes.nResults: In partnership with the Ghana Health Mission, Inc and local community health workers, students and faculty from anrange of health professions took part in a cultural-clinical experience known as Transcultural Immersion in Healthcare. The goalnof the experience was to advance cultural proficiency and knowledge through intensive cultural immersion. An urban setting innGhana, located in West Africa served as the setting for this unique experience.nConclusion: The transcultural immersion in healthcare experience achieved its “bounty” as seen in the enhanced culturalnproficiency of students and faculty, seamless interprofessional communication and collaboration, and provision of primary care andnrelated services to patients and the Ghanaian community. Future research is in development to test the Model for InterprofessionalnImmersion in Cultural Settings (MIICS) in a variety of other settings and with a cross section of health disciplines.