Interdisciplinary education and practice. Has its time come?

Abstract

This article provides background to the debate surrounding the essential need for interdisciplinary education in primary care. The current resurgence of interest and movement towards interdisciplinary primary care are in response to the serious fiscal constraints confronting health care education and practice. Regardless of the reason for this renaissance, the successful development of "interdisciplinary education for practice models" hinges on learning from history. Placed within a historical context, barriers and benefits to developing these models are explored, and approaches to bringing about interdisciplinary education for practice are examined. Ultimately, interdisciplinary education for practice may be a logical and collegial answer to providing cost-effective, client-centered primary care.