Communicating with Geriatric Patients
Drexel University College of Medicine
Drexel University College of Medicine
POGOe Id:
20864
Posted:
02/16/2011
Updated:
02/16/2011
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http://webcampus.drexelmed.edu/doccom/user/static/m_23_demo/default.htmAbstract:
Increasingly, all physicians who care for adults will care for growing numbers of older patients. These patients will offer challenges such as medical complexity, functional impairment, and living environment challenges, which will have to be organized, assessed, and managed in a fairly brief period of time. Perhaps the most important skill for a physician to learn in this environment is to wait for the patient to tell their story in their own time. This module will introduce you to some of the basic skills in communicating with older patients and their caregivers in order to optimize their function, management of their medical conditions, and long-term health outcomes.
Educational objectives:
At the conclusion of this module, you will be able to:
- Overcome communication barriers such as sensory and cognitive impairments and pursue vague or downplayed symptoms.
- Even if patients are cognitively impaired or debilitated, address patients and establish their preferences about decision-making, before addressing caregivers.
- Ask patients directly about sensitive topics, such as end-of-life values, suicidality, abuse and neglect and driving impairment.
- Even with cognitively impaired patients, encourage a culture of open decision-making that involves caregivers (with permission).
- Assess stress levels in caregivers and help them reduce caregiver burden.
- Welcome and value collaboration, and process conflicts with other health professionals when providing care to older patients.
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Estimated time to complete:
1 hour
Posting status:
Posted
Suggested Citation:
Brent Williams and James Pacala. Communicating with Geriatric Patients. POGOe - Portal of Geriatrics Online Education; 2011 Available from: http://www.pogoe.org/productid/20864