Few healthcare caregivers receive formal training about end-of-life (EOL) communication skills. Given the growing population of patients with chronic and life-limiting illnesses, caregivers in all professions need to be comfortable at leading a difficult conversation. Historically, EOL conversations have been led by physicians. Other healthcare professionals including nurses and psychosocial providers bring a unique perspective to these conversations but are often excluded. Not only do these providers have diverse understandings about the patient and family based on their training and role in patient care, they also possess different knowledge about a family’s unique and diverse circumstances, priorities, and goals that are critical EOL conversations. Simulation of these high-stakes conversations can improve communication skills. However, teaching and simulations about how to have these conversations as an interprofessional team are rare. We have developed an interprofessional, EOL communication simulation to teach learners how to deliver difficult news as an interprofessional team virtually. Participants received didactics regarding EOL communication and interprofessional teamwork. Each professional received a case which contained different information based on their profession to represent their unique perspective of the patient and family. They then participated in a simulation where they worked together to deliver bad news to a standardized patient (SP) family member. The simulation began with a ‘Pre-Meeting Huddle’ where participants from three different professions discussed what they knew about the patient and family and developed a plan to deliver the news. Participants then worked together to deliver the news to the SP. This was followed by feedback from a faculty member based on a novel feedback tool. Participants returned to complete a second simulation and their performance was compared using both a knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAB) self-assessment as well as our evaluation tool. We discovered that self-assessed KAP improvement was statistically significant across nearly all domains assessed.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the OICPD is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The OICPD maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change
