February 10, 2025

IPE Event Teaches Wheeling University Health Science Students Holistic Approach to Patient Care

WHEELING, W.Va., Feb. 10 ­– Wheeling University’s health science students discovered the value of communicating and working across disciplines when they spent a day aimed at collaborating to improve patient care.

Students in the Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Nursing and Physical Therapy programs teamed up on Sunday, Feb. 2 to engage in the preparation of a collaborative workforce as part of the ninth Interprofessional Education (IPE) event.

Annually, Wheeling University students, assisted by on-campus faculty and community partners, spend an afternoon working through a paper case. The goal of the exercise is to prepare students to engage in collaboration to improve patient care and outcomes, said Dr. Krissy Grubler, associate clinical professor of Physical Therapy, and a coordinator of the IPE event.

“The case we put before the students covers a number of conditions from physical impairments to mental wellness to health complications to language barriers,” Grubler said. “The goal is for students to apply the principles of teamwork, communicate, and value the roles and responsibilities of each team member when treating a patient. This event gives our students a greater understanding of the collaboration it takes to provide quality patient-centered care.”

More than 35 students worked in interdisciplinary groups to provide patient-centered care for the 20-year-old student-athlete presented in the paper case, Grubler explained. The female was a member of an intercollegiate soccer team who sustained an on-field knee injury and concussion. The case followed the athlete from injury to hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and return to school and sport. The teams had to address a language barrier as Spanish is the female’s first language as they worked to provide quality best patient care.

Dr. Kathy Blatt, assistant professor of Exercise Science, said the IPE event helped students learn that communication is a key component of patient care.

“Interprofessional education teaches students to communicate about their patient with other medical professionals. This event encourages them to think about all the aspects of the health of a person and what each health care field entails. Communication between health field professionals enhances collaboration and improves patient care,” Dr. Blatt explained. 

Jill Emery, director of the Nursing program, said this annual event gives Wheeling University health science students an important learning experience about treating patients.

“Our interprofessional education event gives students the unique opportunity to learn about multiple disciplines within the healthcare industry. This training gives our students valuable insight into resources available for patients,” she said. 

In addition to Grubler, Blatt and Emery, several other faculty members helped to plan the event. They are: Dr. Melissa Bozovich, assistant professor and Director of Exercise Science and Athletic Training; Dr. Nathan Harshberger, instructor of Athletic Training/Exercise Science; Dr. Rhonda Haley, assistant clinical professor of Physical therapy and director of Clinical Education. 

Making up the local panel of experts were: Physical therapist, Matthew Burke, DPT; insurance representative, Michelle Tracy; family nurse practitioner, Caroline Beckwith; physician assistant and respiratory therapist, Ryan Rafa; athletic trainer and EMT, Faith Czmiel; physician, Dr. Tim Knierim; and exercise physiologist, Lance Tarr.