November 13, 2024On Monday, 14 October, Northern Health held an innovative interdisciplinary workshop aimed at enhancing communication skills among healthcare professionals. The event was a collaboration between Northern Health and Deakin University’s Centre for Organisational Change in Person-Centred Healthcare (OCPH).
On the day, 17 participants from surgery, oncology, medicine, emergency, and mental health divisions engaged in interactive learning with facilitators from Deakin University, University of Southern Denmark, and Northern Health. The workshop was held at the Northern Centre for Health Education & Research (NCHER), and focused on advancing communication skills as a critical component of patient-centered care.
The program was co-led by communication and healthcare experts; Professor Peter Martin, Director of Deakin University’s OCPH, A/Professor Connie Timmermann, Deputy Director of the Centre for Research in Patient Communication (CFPK) at the University of Southern Denmark and James Watt, Team Leader and Clinical Nurse Consultant in the Palliative Care Consult Team at Northern Health.
James Watt’s longstanding association with OCPH, and his commitment to enhancing communication skills training at Northern Health, were instrumental in bringing the workshop to life.
“Communication skills development is a lifelong learning commitment. Few opportunities exist for health clinicians to refine and improve their skills in this area, and communication skill training is often overlooked in favour of practical skills,” said Mr Watt.
“We have greatly benefited from OCPH subsidising the majority of costs for this workshop, leveraging their experience in training thousands of clinicians across Victoria,” he added.
The workshop offered participants a unique opportunity to delve into the evidence-based frameworks that underpin effective communication. They practiced skills such as establishing a shared agenda in clinical consultations, recognising and responding to patient cues, and exploring patients’ goals, values, hopes, and fears. Participants also received valuable feedback on their communication approach, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the overall patient experience.
Professor Peter Martin commended the collaborative environment by saying, “It was a fantastic diverse group of participants who were very engaged and had a wealth of experience to contribute.”
“This interactive communication-skills workshop recognises the large role that the ‘language of communication’ plays in keeping our patients safe. The workshop, as well as being interactive, was purposely number limited to ensure tailored feedback could be given to participants. Of particular priority during the workshop was to develop enhanced confidence in recognising and responding to patient cues, as well as how to establish shared agendas with patients and families during consultations,” said Tony McGillion, Divisional Director, Education and Training.
This workshop is part of Northern Health’s ongoing efforts to help healthcare professionals improve their communication skills and enhance patient-centered care. By using these skills in everyday practice, healthcare teams can ensure that patients and their families feel heard, respected, and supported. As communication continues to be a priority in healthcare, Northern Health and OCPH are excited to collaborate further to help clinicians provide the best care possible.
Pictured in feature image (L-R): A/Professor Connie Timmerman, Professor Peter Martin, Melanie Bullock, Metastatic Breast Care Nurse, James Watt, Team Leader and Clinical Nurse Consultant, Rachel Coutts, Director Medical Education, Anastasia Sizemova, Registrar and Arjun Guduguntla, Urology Registrar.
