Affiliations: Department of Nursing, Physician Assistant Program,
Graduate Programs in Public Health, University of New England, Portland, ME,
USA. Tel.: +1 207 221 4438; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Objective: This paper describes a model for interprofessional and
transcultural learning established by the author and supported by the
University of New England and Ghana Health Mission, Inc. The Model for
Interprofessional Immersion in Cultural Settings [1] represents a guiding
framework predicated on a conceptual "brick and mortar" process for building
cultural proficiency among individuals and within teams. It encompasses social,
clinical and behavioral components (brick) and personal desire, cultural
humility and values (mortar). The ``bounty'' aspect of the model is achieved by
way of successful student learning outcomes, positive interprofessional and
community-based collaborations, and finally, and to be measured over time,
favorable patient and population (programmatic) outcomes. Results: In partnership with the Ghana Health Mission, Inc and local community health
workers, students and faculty from a range of health professions took part in a
cultural-clinical experience known as Transcultural Immersion in Healthcare.
The goal of the experience was to advance cultural proficiency and knowledge
through intensive cultural immersion. An urban setting in Ghana, located in
West Africa served as the setting for this unique experience. Conclusion: The transcultural immersion in healthcare experience achieved its ``bounty'' as
seen in the enhanced cultural proficiency of students and faculty, seamless
interprofessional communication and collaboration, and provision of primary
care and related services to patients and the Ghanaian community. Future
research is in development to test the Model for Interprofessional Immersion in
Cultural Settings (MIICS) in a variety of other settings and with a cross
section of health disciplines.
Keywords: Cultural humility, cultural proficiency, bicultural, interprofessional, framework\vspace{0.3cm}
