Experiences of Patient-Centered Medical Home Staff Team Members Working in Interprofessional Training Environments

Background: Evidence is growing that interprofessional team-based models benefit providers, trainees, and patients, but less is understood about the experiences of staff who work beside trainees learning these models. Objective: To understand the experiences of staff in five VA training clinics participating in an interprofessional team-based learning initiative. Design: Individual semi-structured interviews with staff were conducted during site visits, qualitatively coded, and analyzed for themes across sites and participant groups. Participants: Patient-centered medical home (PCMH) staff members (n = 32; RNs, Clinical and Clerical Associates) in non-primary care provider (PCP) roles working on teams with trainees from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and psychology. Approach: Benefits and challenges of working in an interprofessional, academic clinic were coded by the primary author using a hybrid inductive/directed thematic analytic approach, with review and iterative theme development by the interprofessional author team. Key Results: Efforts to improve interprofessional collaboration among trainees and providers, such as increased shared leadership, have positive spillover effects for PCMH staff members. These staff members perceive themselves playing an educational role for trainees that is not always acknowledged. Playing this role, learning from the “fresh” knowledge imparted by trainees, and contributing to the future of health care all bring satisfaction to staff members. Some constraints exist for full participation in the educational efforts of the clinic. Conclusions: Increased recognition of and expanded support for PCMH staff members to participate in educational endeavors is essential as interprofessional training clinics grow.