PTAP 109 - Patient Practitioner Interaction

1 Credits: (1 lecture) First 11 weeks

Course Description
This course focuses on communication skills for students studying healthcare. It will complement previous healthcare coursework and will enhance their self-understanding in their roles as healthcare practitioners. The students will learn effective communication across the lifespan as well as learning cultural awareness and sensitivity.

Note Enrollment is limited to students enrolled in a health career program, with permission of the course instructor.

Prerequisite PTAP 101 and PTAP 122.

A. Explain his or her role as a healthcare provider.

B. Describe the dynamics and considerations of the patient-practitioner relationship.

C. Discuss strategies for effective patient-practitioner interactions across the lifecycle.

D. Identify cultural variations and strategies to enhance intercultural therapeutic communication skills.

Content
A. Role of the Physical Therapist Assistant as a health care provider

B. Values and respect of patients

C. The Patient Bill of Rights and its clinical considerations

D. Cultural awareness

E. Culturally appropriate communication

F. Social and therapeutic relationships

G. Appropriate boundaries of patient-practitioner interactions

H. Generic abilities and core values for health care practitioners

I. Challenges of patients and patient-practitioner relationships

J. Verbal, nonverbal, and written communication considerations

K. Communication considerations across the lifespan

L. Managing clinical conflict with patients and co-workers

Student Evaluation
The student will be evaluated through writing assignments, mock clinical scenarios, and class participation.Bibliography
Davis, Carol. Patient Practitioner Interaction: An Experiential Manual for Developing the Art of Health Care. 4th ed. Thorofare: Slack, 2006.

Drench, Meredith, Ann Cassidy Noonan, Nancy Sharby, and Susan Ventura. Psychosocial Aspects of Health Care. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2007.

Pierson, Frank M., and Sheryl L Fairchild. Principles & Techniques of Patient Care. 4th ed. St. Louis: Saunders, 2008.

Purnell, Larry. Guide to Culturally Competent Care. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Davis, 2009.