Which IPEC core competency involves using knowledge of one's own role and other professions' roles to appropriately assess and address patient healthcare needs?

• A. Roles & Responsibilities
• B. Values & Ethics
• C. Interprofessional Communication
• D. Teams & Teamwork

Answer: (A)

Understanding how professionals fit together in patient care is being tested here. This competency centers on knowing your own role and the roles of other professions, and using that knowledge to assess and address patient healthcare needs appropriately. That alignment is why Roles & Responsibilities is the best fit. It emphasizes recognizing what you bring to the patient’s care and what other team members can provide, so you involve the right professionals for assessment, planning, and treatment.

For example, a physical therapist may identify that medical decisions and some aspects of treatment planning require collaboration with a physician, while social work or pharmacy input may be needed for addressing psychosocial factors or medication management. This awareness helps ensure all relevant aspects of the patient’s needs are considered and addressed by the appropriate team members, leading to coordinated and comprehensive care.

The other competencies focus on different aspects: values and ethics guide decisions rooted in professional principles; interprofessional communication centers on how to convey information across disciplines; and teams and teamwork focus on functioning effectively within the group.