Healthcare providers often must communicate with caregivers to provide care to patients. This is even more important when the patients are unable to communicate or make decisions for themselves. Crucial Conversations with Caregivers is a classroom activity focused on the theme of improving family-engaged practice. The activity relies on the participation of an interprofessional team of students, caregiver, and facilitators. The classroom activity is broken into three distinct parts; 1. caregiver personal storytelling of managing the complicated health care of a child and now adult with significant communication concerns, 2. design sprint for themes, questions, and concerns, 3. roleplaying conversations of caregivers and health care professionals. Utilizing humanities with storytelling, design, and roleplaying elements allows healthcare students to participate fully despite being at various levels in their educations and having varied discipline-specific educations and interests.
102 healthcare students (43 third year doctoral physical therapy students, 38 first year master physician assistant students, and 21 senior undergraduate level social work students) were divided into groups of 5 students of mixed disciplines. After the class, 100 students completed a survey which included the SPICE-R survey, a retrospective Likert scale question on the ability to communicate with caregivers as compared to 6-months prior to the class, and class strengths and challenges. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 13 of the 15 SPICE-R questions having 95% agree or strongly agree to the ability to work collaboratively with a healthcare team. Of the surveyed students, 84.9% agreed or strongly agreed that as compared to 6 months prior to the class, the activity improved their ability to communicate with a patient’s caregiver more effectively. Survey comments included positive statements about collaboration and increased knowledge and understanding of the distinct roles. “It was beneficial to see the same situation approached by three different disciplines and perspectives.”
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The National Center OICPD is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
