The Ohio State University Office of Interprofessional Practice and Education leads, resources, and supports collaborative care and interprofessional education across the University, Wexner Medical Center, and our academic and community partners.

What is interprofessional practice?

Interprofessional education brings learners from two or more professions together to learn about, from, and with one another (WHO, 2010). This approach prepares future professionals for real-world teamwork and supports better health, healthcare, and well-being.

From interprofessional education (IPE) to interprofessional practice (IPCP)

To transform healthcare delivery, we bridge classroom learning with real-world patient care from interprofessional education to interprofessional practice (also called collaborative care):

• Interprofessional education (IPE): As mentioned, interprofessional education occurs when learners from two or more professions learn about, from, and with one another to build the skills needed to enter the workforce fully prepared to practice in collaborative, high-performing teams. This develops essential capabilities in role clarity, structured communication, and team dynamics.
• Interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP): This occurs when healthcare professionals actively apply those shared competencies to deliver coordinated, high-quality patient care.

Ohio State champions the next generation of healthcare professionals by leaning into the power of interprofessional practice and education. In the classroom, clinic, lab, or field, students join and learn from passionate teams of professionals to address the greatest healthcare needs in our communities.

Advancing the Quintuple Aim 

At Ohio State, this work connects directly to the Quintuple Aim. The Quintuple Aim is a framework for improving healthcare outcomes. It helps learners and professionals collaborate across roles and settings in five areas:

• Improve population health: Enhance care outcomes across communities.
• Enhance patient experience: Deliver safer, high-quality, patient-centered care.
• Reduce healthcare costs: Decrease per-capita costs through efficiency and team coordination.
• Provider well-being: Cultivate a supportive culture that lifts clinician well-being and reduces burnout.
• Advance health equity: Address health disparities to ensure equitable access and care.

By bridging education and practice, we are shaping teams to provide safer and higher quality care.