How to communicate with people with aphasia: Establishing an innovative speech-language pathology clinical placement to provide experiential interprofessional learning for health profession students in Northern B.C. – A pilot project

In 2015, a 50% increase in MSc. Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) seats resulted in the need to provide a total of 288 clinical placements for 72 students over a two-year program (an increase from 192 placements). To address a critical shortage of adult placements, the SASS is seeking innovative placement models with a focus in Northern B.C. where SLP services are scarce, especially for adults with aphasia, a communication disorder experienced by 20-30% of people after stroke.

The SASS and its partners at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. have identified a unique opportunity for interprofessional experiential learning involving groups of SLPs and other health profession students. The School proposes a sustainable student SLP clinic for people with aphasia (PWA) post-stroke which would also enable other health profession students to benefit from interprofessional communication partner training and practice based on the evidence-based program Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia.