‘Walking‐the‐talk’: How to co‐design an innovative and sustainable integrated care learning programme

Abstract

AbstractIntegrated care facilitates better outcomes for patients and their family, health workforce and health and social care systems. Accordingly, integrated care is a global and inherent area of work for health professionals. Despite this, formal learning programmes for workforce development in integrated care are still rare. In this paper, I have shared lessons about developing an innovative and sustainable integrated care learning programme for teachers, practitioners and learners in integrated care discipline. These lessons are drawn from my experience of leading an integrated care specialisation programme (that sits at Australian Qualification Framework Level 9) at a public university in Australia. An integrated care learning programme should be designed with appropriate philosophies (e.g., social constructivism and connected learning) and relevant multidisciplinary content that addresses deficiencies in practices of integrated care. Moreover, the programme should aim for sustainability, through financial feasibility and continuity with offering of creative and effective solutions in integrated care. Similarly, the programme should have a suit of curriculum development and teaching initiatives to promote genuine and collaborative learning. Throughout this learning journey, it would be critical for teachers to engage in ‘walking‐the‐talk’, that is, genuinely collaborate with patients, practitioners and students, for successful delivery of an innovative and sustainable learning programme.