SC04--Communication Skills to Enhance Equity & Inclusion

The CF Foundation is committed to equity, racial justice, diversity, and inclusion as core principles in our efforts to provide all people with CF the opportunity to lead long, fulfilling lives. As part of these efforts the CF Foundation is excited to partner with the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH) to offer this short course for learning how to effectively address racial and intersectional differences in relationship-centered ways. Relationship-centered communication (RCC) within care teams and between patient and clinician has been shown to build connection, trust, and partnership, and thus is part of the deep work of building healthy diverse teams as well as eliminating healthcare disparities for patients. We may not be aware of how bias within our systems, or in ourselves as clinicians, impacts our engagement and collaboration with patients and colleagues and our biases and lack of cultural humility contribute to healthcare disparities. This course builds upon the fundamental relationship-centered communication skills learned in the CFF’s Partnership Enhancement Program (PEP). The goal of this short course is to equip participants to feel more comfortable in opening conversations about these differences and taking action in both personal and professional domains. Participants will be invited to practice communications skills that earn trust and demonstrate respect. These skills can be applied both proactively and responsively, when repair is needed. Consistent with the design of the PEP workshops, “Communication Skills to Enhance Equity and Inclusion” emphasizes skills practice and feedback as crucial to participants’ development and, importantly, the sustainability of behavior change.

Session Prerequisites:
• Completion of the Partnership Enhancement Program (PEP) workshop (in person or virtual sessions): Register for the Open Virtual PEP Session: June 5th and June 12th 11am- 2pm ET (email PEP@cff.org to register and learn more about session availability)

• Have foundational knowledge on microaggressions, implicit bias, and stereotype threat.