Structured Interprofessional Shadowing Toolkit

Interprofessional Shadowing (IPSh) occurs when a learner from one profession spends time observing and interacting with practitioners or learners of another profession.

This toolkit was developed from a collaboration between The University of Texas at Austin's Center for Health Interprofessional Practice and Education and the University of Alberta. The toolkit includes resources designed for students, preceptors, practitioners and placement coordinators to help make the most of an Interprofessional Shadowing (IPSh) experience. The information and resources on this site will help you plan and prepare for an informal IPSh or an IPSh integrated into curriculum.

B. Planning - Guide for Structured IP Shadowing.pdf

Start Here: Guide for Planning Structured Interprofessional Shadowing

Integrating (IPSh) into placements requires planning, preparation and a structured approach. To begin:

Decide which approach to IPSh fits your context best.

Do you want a flexible activity that is recommended for students where they can identify IPSh opportunities and set their own objectives? Check out IGAPS

Do you want to formally embed IPSh as a required activity with formal assessment of interprofessional competencies? Check out SIAO

Think about the shadowing environments available for the experience.
Think about the professions in the identified environment.
Identify the level of learner in the IPSh and the learning objectives. Review the Levelled Interprofessional Learning Objectives document.
Think about assets and challenges to implementing and sustaining IPSh in your context.

Click on the document image for detailed planning information to get you started.

Two Approaches to IPSh

IGAPS: Interprofessional Guided-Active-and-Purposeful Shadowing

This guide will help you get started with an active IPSh experience. This approach is great for a more flexible, student initiated approach to IPSh, although practitioners and clinical coordinators can benefit too! Further resources to support this activity can be found here.

SIAO: Structured Interprofessional Active Observations

This guide outlines the approach the University of Texas at Austin PharmD program uses to support IPSh during students second year pharmacy practice rotation. It is formally integrated into curriculum. Further resources to support this activity can be found here.

Getting Ready for IPSh - Quick Resources

Students, Preceptors and Practitioners - Watch this video to learning more about IPSh

This 8 minute video presents on overview of IPSh to help plan a meaningful IPSh.

E. IGAPS - Student and Practitioner Guides to IP Shadowing (1).pdf

Student and Practitioner Quick Guides to IPSh

Print off this quick guide for students and practitioners to set you up for a successful IPSh.

Key Recommendations for Developing and Implementing an IPSh Experience

Advanced Planning

Building a successful and sustainable structured IPSh program requires advance planning. The SIPSh Toolkit provides tools to support this planning process. While neither approach will impact the actual shadowing experience, they will impact resource needs and types of coordination support to ensure successful execution.

Support Students for Success

The toolkit is designed to accommodate varying learner levels from the novice to the advanced learner. As students progress in their respective professional curriculum, their ability to provide context to their IPSh experiences will deepen. Success is driven by developing the mechanism for which students can process and reflect on the experience.

Formally Evaluate Experience

Gathering input and perspectives from not only students, but clinicians, preceptors and faculty about the IPSh experience serves as a means to continually improve the experience for all involved.

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