While traditionally only physicians were responsible for obtaining Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders and Advance Care Directives, now some states also give this authorization to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Substantial medical resources are dedicated to End-of-Life care, and therefore, it can be helpful for all healthcare professionals to be familiar with this important subject.

SUMMARY: Module 4 provides general guidelines, factual information and helpful approaches for physicians in training regarding the important topic of discussing code with patients and families.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

Health care communication is a skill that is critical to safe and effective medical practice. Effective communication with patients and their families can and must be taught, since it is an essential tool that influences many aspects of medical practice.

SUMMARY: Module 5 outlines potential challenges in healthcare interactions between clinicians and families and provides several useful communication techniques for responding appropriately.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

Effective communication is essential to building good relationships between clinicians and patients, and leads to better patient care, while lack of communication or miscommunication can compromise patient safety. Ineffective patient-clinician communication is one of the leading causes of medical errors.

SUMMARY: Module 6 explores common communication barriers between patients and clinicians and provides specific suggestions and approaches for building a stronger relationship.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

Breaking bad news is one of the most challenging tasks in medical practice. Clinicians are asked to undertake this unpleasant task at the time of a patient’s greatest need. How clinicians deliver bad news, their attitude, and communication skills play a critical role in how well the patient and the family will cope with it. Medical training should prepare young clinicians to handle this duty carefully and systematically.

SUMMARY: Module 7 presents general strategies and best practices for breaking bad news, keeping in mind individual patient needs, and utilizes self-reflection techniques to explore the personal and professional difficulties clinicians may encounter in performing this difficult task.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

In addition to providing excellent patient care, clinicians can contribute to constructive changes in the quality and safety of the care delivery system throughout their careers. Healthcare financial pressures continue to escalate, as costs increase and reimbursements decrease. Healthcare providers must continue to find ways to improve resource use while continuing to provide the quality of care that patients deserve.

SUMMARY: Module 8 describes the method for involving clinicians in improving their work environment and patient care by identifying problems they may encounter, formulating potential solutions, and presenting these suggestions to healthcare team management and hospital administration. Collaboration and constructive feedback are emphasized.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

Medical mistakes are one of the leading causes of death in the United States and a serious public health issue. While not all errors are life-threatening, they can significantly compromise a patient’s quality of life. Errors in medical care can have lasting emotional and physical consequences for patients, their families, and healthcare providers. 

SUMMARY: Module 9 discusses the impact that medical mistakes can have on clinicians, patients, and their families, suggests communication techniques to facilitate the disclosure, and describes ways to create supportive environments for clinicians to self-reflect and learn from their experiences.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

Clinicians should have an important leadership role in the management of healthcare organizations since they are at the center of clinical service delivery. Studies suggest that improving their leadership skills contributes to better outcomes for patients and for healthcare organizations. They also recognize that the leadership skills of healthcare professionals can impact not only patient care, but also hospital efficiency and patient satisfaction, which is important to hospital reimbursement, risk management and overall cost of care. 

SUMMARY: Module 10 introduces the concept of emotional intelligence and assists clinicians in identifying their own strengths and weaknesses as leaders. Trainees engage in self-reflection to discover their personal leadership styles and learn about ways they can improve.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

Leadership and management are both essential for organizations to achieve strategic objectives. Effective leaders demonstrate the ability to articulate a vision or goal, communicate this vision to others, build support for this vision, and empower others. Clinicians are better prepared for new leadership roles when they understand the challenges they are most likely to encounter.

SUMMARY: Module 11 develops clinical team management and coaching skills to assist participants in becoming effective team leaders. The module focuses on how to be an effective team manager, taking into consideration the needs of the organization as well as individual subordinates.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

Facilitators are advised to conduct an annual evaluation and needs assessment and analysis for the program, to ensure it focuses on relevant issues and is kept up to date. The results help to formulate the subsequent year’s module schedule and content, decide on the key topics to be covered, and incorporate new challenges the clinicians are likely to face.

SUMMARY: Module 12 suggests different evaluation formats to assess the usefulness of the MedRAP/CPR program to ensure that it continues to address the real needs of all participants.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB

In preparation for potential future pandemics, healthcare professionals need to adjust to a rapidly evolving and unfamiliar environment, as well as to new emotional stressors and a greater risk of exposure. It is critical that healthcare leadership understands and recognizes the sources of personal and professional concerns among healthcare professionals and develops approaches to mitigate those concerns and needs.

SUMMARY: Module 13 provides content to be added to each of the preceding modules, including additional strategies to assist clinicians in responding to current and future challenges.

Author: Iris Mushin, M.Ed, MBA

Contributing Editor: Anoop Agrawal, MB