The Impact of COVID-19 on Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Through the Lens of Acute Care Physical Therapists

A Case Series

Abstract

Purpose: 

This case report describes interprofessional collaborative practice experiences through the viewpoints of 3 acute care physical therapists who worked with patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) during the early months of the pandemic.

Methods: 

The cases presented in this case report were selected from a larger longitudinal qualitative multiple-case study investigating interprofessional collaborative practice experiences of physical therapists employed in inpatient settings prior to and during the pandemic. The cases provide detailed narrative descriptions of interprofessional collaborative practice before and during the pandemic from the perspective of 3 physical therapists working in acute care environments.

Results: 

The 3 physical therapists reported challenges to and opportunities for interprofessional collaborative practices that align with the 4 interprofessional educational competencies (values/ethics, roles/responsibilities, communication, and teams/teamwork).

Conclusions: 

The ability to provide patient-centered care through interprofessional collaborative practices was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The rich narrative descriptions of our participants' experiences as members of interprofessional teams provide additional insight regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on interprofessional collaborative practice.