Community Paramedicine in British Columbia: Communication and Relationship

There are strong positive relationships between a healthcare team member's communication skills and a patient's capacity to follow through with medical recommendations, to self-manage a chronic medical condition and to adopt preventive health behaviors. In this course, learners will develop strategies to communicate effectively with patients and their families. Through a blended model of instruction, learners will learn the four processes (Engagement, Focusing, Evoking and Planning) of Motivational Interviewing (Ml), with an emphasis on how Ml can be used to assist clients in building motivation towards change and in strengthening commitment. Learners will develop effective strategies for interprofessional communication including how to recognize and manage interprofessional conflict. Conflict taps into our values, beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, judgments and emotions and is greatly influenced by the skills and aptitudes of the individuals involved. Learners will also participate in two days of instructional training to learn the principles of adult education. These principles will help the Community Paramedic with public education and health promotion in the community.