Speakers: Chris Kramer PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT and Bill Koch PT, DPT, OCS, Cert MDT, FAAOMPT
Contact Hours: 6 MN BPT Cat. 1 CEUs

About This Course

Physical therapists, across practice areas, need to be master communicators with patients. Patient relationships across a care continuum are a vital component to effective clinical care and outcomes. Simply educating and instructing patients is not enough to maximize clinical effectiveness. The method and context of delivery is critical and as such we must consider the patient’s beliefs, biases and assumptions in effective communication and patient care. Clinicians may not recognize the subtle messages they deliver across verbal, non-verbal and printed methods of interaction. The patient relationship can also be influenced through an empathetic encounter, which when delivered, allows the patient to feel heard and understood in a way that provides an environment ideal for positive clinical progression. Lastly we will examine the role of patient and clinician bias and their role in shaping our decisions during patient interactions.  

This course will use stories, analogies, case examples and the related research to demonstrate that the presentation and delivery of information is critically important to patient expectations and experience and ultimately to clinical outcomes. Practical application of these concepts will include discussion activities to develop communication strategies that will facilitate positive clinical outcomes as well as patient rapport and confidence. We will also work through the process of examining and improving clinic handouts to minimize the threat of negative language and maximize patient expectations.

Course Schedule

8:30am – 10:00am    Introduction and Placebo
10:00am – 10:15am   Break
10:15am – 11:45am   Nocebo/Negative Language
11:45am – 12:45pm   Lunch
12:45pm – 2:15pm    Patient and Clinician Expectations
2:15pm – 2:30pm     Break
2:30pm – 4:00pm     Empathy

Course Objectives

• Introduce and define the concepts of Placebo and Nocebo within the context of clinical communication and expectations and their subsequent impact on clinical outcomes.
• Discuss the impact of verbal and non-verbal interactions in clinical communication and education and their impact on the clinical experience.
• Discuss clinician and patient biases and how these can influence clinical decision-making and shape patient and clinician expectations and beliefs.
• Discuss the concept of an empathetic encounter and learn how to leverage this to improve clinical outcomes.

Speaker Biography

Dr. Kramer graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor’s of Science in Kinesiology and went on to earn a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy.  In 2008, he became board certified in orthopedic physical therapy.  In 2009, Dr. Kramer graduated from Regis University with his transitional DPT.  Most recently he became a Fellow, graduating in 2011 from Regis University’s Manual Therapy Fellowship program.  He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. He currently works at Park Nicollet in Minneapolis.

Registration Information