Abstract
Background: Wicked problems in healthcare, such as the complex health condition of head injury, demand interprofessional collaboration that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. These complex clinical challenges call for theoretical frameworks that integrate both disciplinary expertise and interdisciplinary processes.
Definitions and Concepts: Grounded in Repko and Szostak’s (2017) framework of interdisciplinary studies, this paper integrates the Science of Team Science (SciTS), the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies, and TeamSTEPPS® to construct a novel heuristic that informs the design of an interprofessional education (IPE) and practice model.
Relationships Between Concepts: We align SciTS’ four phases with IPEC and TeamSTEPPS® to enhance team-based learning. This integration provides a scaffolded theoretical and practical foundation for interdisciplinary clinical education.
How Change Occurs: Ten steps from interdisciplinary research theory guided the design of a Head Injury Clinic. These steps facilitated epistemological alignment, role clarity, shared communication, and mutual accountability among faculty and students.
Evaluation and Intervention Strategies: Evaluation included the Interprofessional Collaborator Assessment Rubric (ICAR), TeamSTEPPS® tools, and joint displays integrating qualitative and quantitative data to explore team performance and collaborative behaviors.
Application: The heuristic model was applied in the development of a team-based clinic. Faculty operationalized the framework in student training and practice design, embedding team theory into the learning environment.
Discussion: Our model supports interdisciplinary curriculum design through an epistemologically grounded approach. By embedding theory into faculty development and student learning, we support a more sustainable and scalable pathway from interprofessional education to interprofessional practice.
DOI
10.32873/unmc.dc.tso.2.3.04
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Balog, E., Paparella, S., Noce, N., Hubbell, S., & Pena, K. (2025). Integration of the Science of Team Science (SciTS) with Applied Healthcare Frameworks: Interprofessional Education through a University-based Head Injury Clinic, Part I: Theory. Translational Science in Occupation, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.32873/unmc.dc.tso.2.3.04