How To: Set Up and Run Your IPP Team

How To Set Up Your IPP Team

This section covers how to set up an interprofessional practice (IPP) team and how to structure your collaboration process. If you are new to IPP or want to start using the IPP framework at your workplace, then this is the resource for you.

On successful IPP teams, each member provides their professional expertise and works together on an assessment and treatment plan that centers around the person and their family. Then, the team cooperates on planning and developing solutions. This section includes a rubric [PDF] for structuring and recording your team’s plan as well as an infographic to explain the IPP process.

Working on an IPP team isn’t just about following a preset process. It also requires developing new skills, which are covered in this ASHA webinar. Also, for examples of real-life IPP teams in action, check out our case studies and series of IPP in Action videos showcasing successful collaboration in both health care and education settings.

IPP Team Checklist

Successful IPP teams always have the following:

A shared goal or objective

The entire team works towards the same outcome for the patient or student.

A dedicated team facilitator

The facilitator sets up meetings and handles other administrative work. This role may rotate among team members.

Defined roles for all team members

Each individual member has a specific role that is based on their knowledge and skills. Team members trust and support each other.

A communication plan

This plan addresses how often the team meets and how team members stay in touch between meetings.

Dedicated times for reflective practice

During meetings, the team makes time to reflect on what’s working, what’s not working, and how to make changes to improve.

A plan for making decisions and resolving conflicts on the team

The team decides in advance how they will make decisions and resolve conflicts. What happens when the team doesn’t reach consensus?

Facilitating an IPP Team

On IPP teams, one person serves as the team facilitator. This team member is responsible for setting up meetings and completing the rubric [PDF], but the whole team shares responsibility for planning, assessment, treatment, data collection, and progress monitoring. Team members may rotate responsibility for acting as the team facilitator over the course of treatment.

The team facilitator is in charge of the following:

Assembling the team. The facilitator ensures that the IPP team includes professionals to address the full range of potential needs. If a student or patient has additional needs, then the team can always add new members.
Convening the team. The facilitator organizes the initial IPP team meeting and includes the family/caregiver when appropriate.
Documenting progress and plans. The facilitator engages the team to discuss the case and uses the IPP rubric [PDF] to record team roles, plans, assessments, and other details about the case. More details on using the rubric appear below. The facilitator also confirms next steps with the team.

See examples of completed case rubrics [PDF] in the IPE/IPP Case Studies section.

Download the Rubric