PA621 Patient Centered Communication and Approach to Diversity
This is the first of a four-course series designed to enable the student to effectively and respectfully evaluate patients and focuses on basic interviewing techniques with an introduction to patient diversity and the impact of psychosocial issues on health and wellness. The student learns the components of a medical interview and how to obtain a full history from patients in a variety of settings and situations. Development of effective patient- centered communication skills and sensitivity to patients’ concerns are stressed and practiced; strategies for communicating with diverse populations (hearing or visually impaired, patients with disabilities, non-English speaking patients, cultural norms and religious requirements, etc.) and patients across the lifespan are explored. Pre-requisite: Matriculation into the PA Program