The Role Of An International Cross Cultural Interprofessional Healthcare Immersion Program In Doctor Of Physical Therapy Education: An Educational Case Report

Background and Purpose: Today’s healthcare team requires providers to be culturally sensitive and competent interprofessional collaborators. Interprofessional Education (IPE) helps to provide a collaborative foundation for healthcare providers. Cross-cultural immersion (CCI) educational programs foster cultural awareness. Service-learning (SL) programs create opportunities for students to have interprofessional and cross cultural experiences. The purpose of this educational case report is to describe an interprofessional international cross-cultural immersion healthcare program and to discuss the role of this program in the development of (DPT) students’ cultural competence, interprofessionalism, and social responsibility. Case Description: The Ghana Cross Cultural Healthcare Immersion (GCCHI) is a University based program that provides an annual healthcare clinic in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. Students, faculty and Ghanaian providers work interprofessionally in order to provide sustainable primary healthcare to the underserved populations of Ghana. Outcomes: After participating in the GCCHI program, students and faculty report enhanced cultural sensitivity and an improvement in the ability to coordinate care across professions. Discussion: The Ghana Cross Cultural Healthcare Immersion (GCCHI) Program provides a unique experience involving IPE and CCI in a SL program while providing sustainable primary healthcare to the underserved population of Ghana. While there is extensive anecdotal evidence from program alumni, the program would benefit from evaluating its interprofessional, cross cultural and healthcare outcomes with evidence based outcome measures