During the first few weeks of this course, undeniably the group went through the rocky stages. There were moments of unclarity and tension, however the group learned their way around this given the values for collaboration that were being taught to us. IPE has taught me to adjust and adapt to others This course was a great opportunity to experience first-hand, the cases of other disciplines. This gave me a better appreciation of other professions. Lastly, the IPE team had also given me new friends. In the photo above are the people that I was led to during that one day in the Central Laboratory. Fortunately, we had all gotten assigned to “tweet” like a bird.It was these group of people that had taught me the skills that I need and will carry-over as I move forward and become part of more interprofessional teams in the future. 

But that uncertainty that I was feeling went away when we handled a patient as a group. In my experience, I was tasked to do all the objective examinations for our patient who suffered an ankle sprain one year ago. Usually when we assess a patient who has an ankle sprain in our field, we would expect some LOM (loss of motion) in his movements and muscle weakness in the affected foot. But when I assessed the patient, all of the ROM and MMT findings were within the normal limit which shocked me because the case is unusual and I did not expect this from the case given to us. From that point, I did not know what to do until our group held a short meeting and we realized that the patient did not need a physical therapist but rather he needed a sports scientist.

From that experience, I realized that it is very important to look at the case holistically and always remember that we would achieve the best outcome for the patient once we work together as a team of health care professionals rather than working alone in a case.

During the given task the, honestly our team didn't really know what to do or how to divide the labor since almost all of us can contribute to the task, the group initially had hard time which profession is going to take this and that because of the similarities we have. During the long run we learned the importance and specialty of each and one us it made also important we have consultations as reminders of what profession can this kind of task and can develop it even more, Furthermore this subject helped me gain new friends and understand what it is really to be in that course, these people really had me think on different perspective and approach and made me think that I could also work onto different profession other than them, this made me more flexible and be open many possibilities and ideas.

As for our CIP3 experience, our case is a client with an ankle sprain, so from brainstorming to meeting our client and making an individualized care plan, I, along with my other OT and SLP members, were a bit lost about what we can contribute to the patient care, especially in the evaluation. Once again, communication became vital to determining what each member’s role and task would be. From there, I learned when to step back and then insert myself where I am needed, which was looking at the overall participation of the client in his desired occupation, basketball. We took on the role of trying to knit together all of our plans in a way that would help the client achieve their goals efficiently and effectively. When working as a team, it is important to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses for a more smooth sailing collaboration.

During the first few sessions, the communication was there, but we didn’t know where to start since this idea was new to us. Initially, we planned and discussed the things that we needed, especially our requirements. One of the factors that made us closer as a team was the synergy activity, wherein we had multiple activities during that day that required communication and team effort. All groups were competitive, so we strategized within our team, which made us closer to one another.

Lastly, the biggest challenge that we encountered was when we had an actual client. Since the beginning, the team has progressed, and we accomplished our tasks and fulfilled our roles in the group despite our differences in views and opinions. IPE has taught me not just to know my role in the team but also when to interact when I am needed.

What IPE has been to me through my experience this semester iwould be represented by striking a piece of metal to make it sharper and finer. Through putting the group through tests, challenges,and stressors, the cooperation of the unit as a whole would improve and in turn, be able to do its purpose better which is providing high quality care.

As for the CIP 3, it was quite challenging to handle a patient with an ankle sprain despite the condition not being severe. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration since the interventions and plan of care that were to be provided need to be aligned or tailored to the client's occupation to accelerate recovery and prevent disruption to their professional life. Additionally, I learned that we have to effectively convey the treatment plan, expected outcomes, and rehabilitation exercises to foster a collaborative relationship between the healthcare team and the patient. This ensures that every member of the rehabilitation team is on the same page, promoting consistency and coherence in providing care. Moreover, I learned that understanding the team dynamics would help in providing synergy in the group which contributes significantly to the overall patient care. Hence, this made me realize that we have to acknowledge each team member's expertise and role in the patient's care to enhance the quality of care and to prevent potential misunderstandings or lapses in the treatment plan.

In retrospect, IPE made me realize the holistic nature of patient care. Beyond clinical interventions, recognizing the broader context of a patient's life, including their occupation, having proper communication and team dynamics, enriches the care provided. This ensures that the patient not only heals physically but also experiences the care and support from the healthcare team.

The first time I heard the IPE course, I wasn't aware of what it is about. After being oriented of the activities and tasks we need to accomplish, I was then looking forward to it since working other departments sounded exciting and it gave me the impression that this course will open doors for growth and more knowledge. I wasn't wrong though. Throughout my journey in this course, I learned and developed some skills and characteristics I need possess if I wish to work in the field I dream of— which is being part of the healthcare community. Through IPE, I learned to be proactive and openly communicate to my members in order to create a harmonious and effective plan. Although we had conflicts in matching our schedules, and I, myself, found it hard to keep up with deadlines due to my other responsibilities, our team still found answers and thrived through the unprecedented events by collaborating and putting our ideas together.

This was seen during the time we worked on our CIP 3. We encountered a lot of possible hindrances but our team was still able to conduct the interview and create a management plan for the patient. The experience was challenging if I were to be honest since each departments have different insights, but at the end of the day, we manage to listen to each other and learn from the inputs. The teamwork was shown through our outputs and although we committed a few mistakes, we used those as our learning ground to be more efficient in the future.

All in all, the experiences I had in IPE will be remembered in a way that I'll use it as my guide since this won't be the last time I'll be collaborating with other professionals.

As for my actual experiences during the IPE course, Within the first weeks, I thought that this course is simply working on written outputs with team members from other courses. But from what I have encountered, it is more than that. My unforgettable experience during this course was when we had different activities as a group and during our patient handling. During those times, I have seen how everyone imparted their skills in terms of team collaboration and clinical skills that they use in their field. I have realized how interprofessional teams are helpful in obtaining optimal progress for the patient. In addition, I have realized that working with an IPE team was really fun and fruitful. With all of these being given, the IPE course gave me a new and much clearer perspective on how an IPE team would look like and what are the skills that each IPE team member should possess when working already within the profession. The IPE course also pointed out that the purpose of an IPE team is more than evaluation papers that we write. Collaboration, communication, and clinical skills are also the vital competencies that we need to work on to provide quality care to patients.

• Daniela Timbal

Similar to the delicate balance of bitter and sweet flavors in Matcha, our collaborative efforts involve navigating both setbacks and triumphs in the course. The bitter moments may include our setbacks and obstacles when making plans for our project, but the sweetness lies when we are able to finish and make outputs that arise from a collaborative effort.

Each student in our team is like a tea leaf contributing to making a unique blend of care and, together, creating a synergy that transcends our individual capabilities. Together, we stir a commitment to our patients, creating an environment where the rehabilitation journey is as enriching and refreshing as a sip of finely crafted Matcha.