Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Interprofessional ICU Education

Introduction: Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are dynamic settings where diverse learners, including Advanced Practice Provider (APP) fellows and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) fellows, must collaborate effectively to optimize patient outcomes. In 2022, a system-based transition-to-practice APP fellowship expanded into the Pediatric ICU (PICU), coinciding with the launch of a three-year ACGME-accredited PCCM fellowship. Both programs operate at a tertiary center with a 32-bed PICU combining medical-surgical and cardiac critical care.


Methods: Recognizing the opportunity for interprofessional synergy, program leaders established a shared learning model. Weekly joint didactics include lectures, case discussions, procedural skills, journal clubs, and simulations were co-designed for both learner groups. Innovative interprofessional education (IPE) initiatives were introduced, including an educational escape room, high-fidelity interprofessional simulations, and themed days integrating gamification, simulation, and hands-on skills training. Faculty champions from both programs collaborated to align content with shared core competencies and emphasize ICU values such as communication, shared decision-making, and mutual respect.


Results: In the past year, APP and PCCM fellows jointly engaged in activities including pig heart dissections, simulations, joint case conferences, and integrated journal clubs. Feedback demonstrated high satisfaction and value: 100% of events received top-box scores (Kirkpatrick Level 1), with self-reported competency increases >20% (Kirkpatrick Level 2), and average satisfaction scores of 5/5. Qualitative feedback highlighted improved interprofessional communication, deeper appreciation of each other’s roles, and increased readiness for independent practice. APP fellows cited enhanced team cohesion and clarity in role delineation; PCCM fellows noted gains in confidence, preparedness, and collaborative problem-solving.


Conclusions: Embedding interprofessional education in fellowship training cultivates collaboration. This model bridges educational silos and reinforces ICU team values. Future directions include scaling this model to larger academic centers with high-volume PICUs, evaluating scalability and sustainability with larger cohorts, and incorporating formal assessment tools.