Symposium

Clinical Practice (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, knowledge translation/EBP, implementation science, program development)

Brain Injury

Cross-Cutting

Cultural Competency

Stroke

Increasing Communication Access for Patients in Rehabilitation Settings: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Communication Partner Training (843181)

Presenter(s)

• 

  Elissa Larkin Conlon, MS, CCC-SLP

  Research Speech-Language Pathologist
  Shirley Ryan Abilitylab
  Chicago, Illinois
• KG

  Kristen Gracz, MSN, RN, CNL, CRRN

  Clinical Quality Coordinator
  Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
  chicago, Illinois
• VL

  Viktoriya Landar, OTR/L

  Occupational Therapist
  Shirley Ryan Ability Lab
  Chicago, Illinois

  Presentation Slides Handouts Presentation + Audio

Moderator(s)

• 

  Leora R. Cherney, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, FACRM

  Coleman Foundation Chair and Scientific Chair, Think and Speak Lab
  Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
  Chicago, Illinois

In order to maximize outcomes, rehabilitation clinicians must be able to communicate effectively with patients. However, many patients face barriers that impact their communication; related to their diagnosis, health literacy, or primary language. Although there are evidence-based methods to support effective patient communication, few providers receive explicit training on these techniques. This session will first provide a condensed communication partner training highlighting evidence-based communication strategies most relevant to rehabilitation practice. Presenters will then provide an overview of two training models implemented successfully in a rehabilitation hospital system with Allied Health and Nursing staff.  Trainees from each program will describe their respective experiences and share pilot effectiveness data. Finally, audience participants will engage in a collaborative discussion of considerations for tailoring communication partner training programs to the unique needs of their own diverse rehabilitation teams and their patients.

Learning Objectives:

• define communication partner training and describe factors that contribute to communication access for patients in a healthcare setting.
• Describe two novel communication partner training programs implemented with Allied Health and Nursing staff in a research and rehabilitation hospital setting.
• discuss considerations for tailoring communication partner training to the unique needs of staff trainees in specific rehabilitation settings.