Vol 2-4 Mini Review

Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice: Are We There Yet?

Kimberly M. Clark*

MS in Respiratory Care Program, Clinical Associate Professor and Program Director, Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA

Interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice have been debated for several decades in the health professions. Over that course of time there have been ebbs and flows of interest in IPE and collaborative practice. Health care reform has brought about a renewed interest. IPE is considered an important component in developing collaborative practice-ready health professionals. IPE readiness, effectiveness, and challenges are considerations for successful IPE implementation. Sufficient evidence exists to suggest that faculty and students are motivated to engage in IPE. Knowledge, skills, and attitudes have been shown to improve with IPE interventions. Questions remain, however, about the linkage of IPE to collaborative practice and health outcomes.

DOI: 10.29245/2689-999X/2017/4.1139 View / Download Pdf
Vol 2-4 Mini Review

A Clinical Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment of Left Anterior Descending Artery Myocardial Bridge

Giuseppe Tarantini*, Luca Nai Fovino, Alberto Barioli, Alessandro Schiavo, Chiara Fraccaro

Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padova, Italy

The muscle overlying the intramyocardial segment of an epicardial coronary artery is defined as myocardial bridge (MB). The clinical relevance of MBs is extremely heterogeneous, ranging from incidental finding in asymptomatic patients to different clinical manifestations such as stable or unstable angina, arrhythmias, Takotsubo syndrome or other major cardiovascular events. Moreover, patients can evolve from “asymptomatic carriers” to “symptomatic carriers” over time. In this setting, haemodynamic assessment is challenging and optimal therapy still a matter of debate. This review summarizes epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic work-up (including both morphological and functional assessment) and treatment of patients with MB involving the left anterior descending artery, suggesting a pragmatic clinical approach.

DOI: 10.29245/2689-999X/2017/4.1141 View / Download Pdf
Vol 2-4 Commentary