Advanced Initiatives in Interprofessional Education in Japan

Interprofessional education (IPE) is becoming a recognized discipline among health care professionals and medical training institutions worldwide. Its significance is especially felt in Japan, where little has been written on the subject although the need is great. Recent initiatives among several institutions have helped to create the Japan Interprofessional Working and Education Network (JIPWEN), comprising ten universities. Through consultation and cooperation with the World Health Organization, other international networks, and local health policy planners, JIPWEN focuses on critical issues and applicable models to assist institutions interested in setting up IPE programs. With contributions from the ten JIPWEN member universities, this book explains in detail the diverse contents of existing IPE programs and provides viable models for the increasing number of institutions aiming to develop their own IPE programs. The chapters that make up the book depict the member institutions' backgrounds, goals, methods, modules, student compositions, facilitation systems, and curricula, providing an invaluable description of IPE initiatives currently under way in Japan.