University of Gothenburg
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Ett träningsrum med sjukhussäng på KTC.
Photo: Elin Lindström
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The Clinical Training Center leads the way in interprofessional collaboration

The Clinical Training Center (KTC) continues to expand its role within the education programs at Sahlgrenska Academy. Now established as an independent unit, KTC has assumed responsibility for interprofessional learning at the faculty level.

Group photo of KTC employees.
The KTC group together: from left Malin Lindberg, Anna Nerman, Therese Vilhelmson and Camilla Weidestam.
Photo: Elin Lindström

Interprofessional learning allows students from different educational programs to meet and collaborate. The goal is to enhance their understanding of each other’s professions, a crucial foundation for effective teamwork in their future careers.  
The transition of for interprofessional learning responsibilities to KTC feels like a natural progression for the team, which has long worked to facilitate interactions between students pursuing different career paths.  
“We have always prioritized for interprofessional learning, as KTC has been a natural hub for this. Now, we also have the mandate to lead these initiatives, which feels very positive. The response from the programs involved in IPL has been supportive of this change,” says Malin Lindberg, head of KTC.

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Therese is standing in a teaching room where there is an adult-sized training dummy in a bed.
At KTC, many different care situations can be recreated in a realistic way. Therese Vilhelmson shows one of the teaching rooms that are available.
Photo: Elin Lindström

Human rights

Sahlgrenska Academy already hosts a well-established and highly regarded full-day program on human rights and the right to health, designed for all first-term students. This program is offered every semester.  

“Just a few weeks ago, KTC participated in the for interprofessional learning day on human rights for the first time. It’s a truly exciting and appreciated event, covering an essential topic,” says Lindberg.  
Discussions about the future development of for interprofessional learning will take place in a newly formed steering group, with representatives from all departments. Lindberg is chairing this group, which has replaced the previous committee for interprofessional learning (the IPL Committee).  

The KTC team is already brainstorming ideas for new for interprofessional learning initiatives. They are considering developing cross-disciplinary modules based on the core competencies shared among healthcare professions. They are also exploring how flipped classroom pedagogy combined with digital meetings between students could provide an accessible way to enhance interprofessional learning.

Better prepared for clinical practice

KTC’s mission is to support educational programs, evolving its activities in collaboration with teachers and program leaders. Its new status as an independent unit enhances its ability to refine teaching methods and collaborate across the faculty. KTC also engages in research projects, both internally and in partnership with academic programs, to provide scientific evidence for educational materials and teaching methods.  

The conditions for clinical practice (VFU) have changed. For example, the medical and nursing programs have recently expanded their VFU components. However, the shortage of placement opportunities makes it challenging for healthcare providers to maintain high-quality clinical training. The growing complexity of healthcare also increases the demands on students to be well-prepared before starting their placements.  

Effective learning

“By practicing at KTC, students can be better prepared for their VFU, optimizing their learning during placements. Students who have attended sessions at KTC are welcome to practice independently in our self-training rooms, which many of them do,” explains Therese Vilhelmson, who works as a coordinator at KTC alongside her colleague Camilla Weidestam.  

Anna Nerman, a coordinator at KTC, ensures that all equipment functions properly and enforces adherence to professional standards.  
“The same rules apply here as in healthcare, and we’re strict about it—no long sleeves or nail polish, and every workstation must be left clean and orderly. When students graduate, these routines need to be second nature,” says Anna Nerman. 

Today, all programs include at least one session at KTC, with basic CPR training being the most fundamental.  
“We’re eager to expand our collaborations with the programs and are open to developing new modules for those that need them. All teachers are welcome to contact us, for instance, through our monthly Open Office meetings held via Teams,” Therese Vilhelmson concludes.

Photo: Elin Lindström