SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Enhancing Hospitalists' Communication: Impact of a Tailored Serious Illness Conversation Interactive Workshop

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This document describes an 8-hour, hospitalist-specific interactive workshop based on the Serious Illness Conversation Program and VitalTalk curriculum. The workshop was designed to improve hospitalists’ ability to conduct serious illness conversations with patients who have high-acuity or severe illnesses.<br /><br />The training used adult-learning methods, including communication frameworks, mnemonics, hospitalist-specific cases, role-play, and simulated patient practice. Its goals were to help clinicians: elicit patients’ perspectives, deliver serious news, express empathy, explore values and goals, explain prognosis, and recommend care plans aligned with patient preferences.<br /><br />The background notes that hospitalists often care for seriously ill patients but do not receive standard communication training, instead learning informally during residency or practice. Prior research shows that communication training can increase the likelihood and quality of serious illness conversations, improve goal-concordant care, and support better patient outcomes and quality of life.<br /><br />Results from the workshop showed significant improvements in self-perceived communication skills and in planned use of communication frameworks after participation (n=70). Skills improved across all measured domains, including discussing illness experiences, giving serious news, showing empathy, eliciting goals, explaining prognosis, and recommending care based on patient values. Reported differences were statistically significant (p<0.0001).<br /><br />The authors conclude that the tailored workshop meaningfully strengthened hospitalists’ communication skills and intention to use structured conversation tools. Future directions include studying long-term effects on patients and clinicians, improving sustainment of skills, and expanding the program to other specialties to create a shared communication culture.

Asset Subtitle

Sharon S. Clark

Meta Tag

Author List Christina Dietz, Kavitha Norton, Sharon S. Clark

Category Innovations

Concept Serious Illness Communication Training

Concept Serious Illness Conversation

Concept Patient Values

Concept Patient Goal

Concept Hospitalist

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Presenting Author Sharon S. Clark

Track Communication

Keywords

serious illness conversations

hospitalist communication training

VitalTalk curriculum

Serious Illness Conversation Program

adult learning methods

empathy and prognosis

goal-concordant care

simulated patient practice

communication frameworks

patient values and preferences

Serious Illness Communication Training

Serious Illness Conversation

Patient Values

Patient Goal

Hospitalist