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Program Information

Professional Council Symposium: Communicating with Patients: A Vital Skill for a Medical Physicist


D Pavord

R Pizzutiello

D Brown

D Pavord




D Pavord1*, R Pizzutiello2*, D Brown3*, (1) Health Quest, Poughkeepsie, NY, (2) Upstate Medical Physics, Victor, NY, (3) University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Presentations

9:30 AM : Welcome and opening remarks - D Pavord, Presenting Author
9:35 AM : How to speak to patients - R Pizzutiello, Presenting Author
10:00 AM : Strategies for learning and teaching patient communication skills - D Brown, Presenting Author
10:15 AM : Q & A - D Pavord, Presenting Author

SU-B-FS4-0 (Sunday, July 30, 2017) 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Room: Four Seasons 4


Why we have failed to effectively communicate “patient dose” - Robert Pizzutiello

How do you handle questions from patients and referring physicians who are concerned about the risks of radiation from imaging procedures?

Despite decades of research and substantial scientific understanding, we have failed to effectively communicate the meaning of “patient dose” to patients and colleagues. As a result, pervasive misinformation persists and can interfere with the most appropriate care for patients.

Using interactive “experiential learning” techniques coupled with more traditional didactic format, this presentation will address the methods commonly used to communicate this essential principle, review selected relevant facts and uncertainties, and propose a method to more effectively communicate with patients and colleagues.

Strategies for learning and teaching patient communication skills - Derek Brown

We believe the professional practice of Medical Physics is shifting away routine, mundane physical measurements towards the development of professional relationships with patients. This provides the increasing tech-savi patient with access to reliable, accurate information with respect to the technical aspects of their treatment.

In order to perform this role, Medical Physicists need training in patient communication. While Physicians begin learning how to communicate with patients in their first week of graduate medical education, Medical Physicists receive little, or more commonly, no formal training in this arena.

In this presentation we outline a structured training protocol for Medical Physicists that includes formal didactics as well as evaluated interactions with standardized patients. We also present a set of competencies associated with patient interaction and mechanisms for evaluating those competencies.


Handouts


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