University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed an evidence-based teaching course, Critical Conversations, to provide serious illness communications skills training to clinicians. Designed to be completed over three weeks with a combination of asynchronous and synchronous training, this course will empower clinicians to have better goals-of-care conversations with hospitalized, seriously ill patients and their families. Improving conversations ensures patients, families, and loved ones, have a clearer understanding of the medical condition and can make informed medical decisions.
Description
Communicating with seriously ill patients and their loved ones can be incredibly difficult, time-consuming and sometimes emotionally and morally distressing. Many clinicians have not received adequate training in how to have these conversations, leading to misunderstandings, confused and upset patients and family members, erosion of patient-clinician trust, and ultimately negative outcomes for patients, families, and clinicians. Critical Conversations aims to change the mindset of clinicians to better understand the emotional state of seriously ill patients, the obstacles caused by a lack of an established relationship with the patient in an inpatient setting, and the psychological difficulties family members may have making decisions for loved ones. This course will enable clinicians to have effective, patient- and family-centered conversations, ultimately saving time and leading to less emotional distress and improved patient outcomes.
Applications
• Medical school syllabus
• Continuous professional development training
Advantages
Critical Conversations is designed as a remote learning tool with both asynchronous and synchronous elements improving accessibility for clinicians regardless of location. Based on decades of research, a communication strategy “I-REMAP” has been developed to help clinicians navigate conversations. These key steps are: Invest in relationships, Reframe giving patients and family a very simple and concise headline, Expect emotion and respond with empathy, Map out patient values, Align to ensure correct understanding of conversations, and Purpose a treatment and promote shared decision making.
Invention Readiness
An entire course has been developed using digital and videoconferencing technology. Clinicians complete two lessons remotely each week covering elements of the I-REMAP framework which include interactive exercises (e.g., writing example language, recording skills practise on video) and quizzes. Each week, expert coaches review an individual’s progress, and clinicians have personalized coaching and feedback sessions to practise skills and receive real-time feedback. Clinicians learn the importance of tone and body language in their communications and how to develop a set of “go-to” phrases that work for each individual clinician. The course also teaches clinicians how to recognize emotional needs and provide support to patients and family, and to understand when patients and family may be ready to move the conversation forward to decision making. Finally, the course also includes resources where clinicians can review material prior to goals-of-care conversations with a patient or family, to refresh their skills and continue to deliver effective communication and aid decision making.
IP Status
Copyrighted
