Communication Skills in Physician-Patient Encounters

Target Population: Neurologists/Neurosurgeons Objectives: The objective of this course is to improve physician-patient communication skills, and discuss medical legal issues surrounding patient care. Course Description: Participants encounter simulated patients (actors) or their immediate family in scenarios focusing on how to communicate with challenging patients; informed consent and patient safety management.  Colleagues and debriefing facilitators observe the encounters through one-way glass panels, and audiovisual recordings are made for the debriefing sessions.  On completion of the encounter, the participant receives feedback from the simulated patient, colleagues and debriefing facilitators and the recorded encounter is watched and discussed in the debriefing session.