The Communications module is designed according to the AES course framework, which includes four phases:
- Explore
- Learn & Practice
- Reflect
- Reinforce
Below you'll discover how AES can help you teach your students about communication in a healthcare setting according to these four phases.
Phase 1: Explore
Activity: Communications Game
In this activity, students explore the importance of effective communications by having student give and receive directions on drawing images.
Phase 2: Learn & Practice
Unit 1: Basic Communication
In this unit, students will learn about: interpersonal communication as it applies to the health care environment as they define verbal, written, and nonverbal communication, use the sender-receiver model, and explore active listening.
Lessons
1. Types of Communication
2. Communication Process
3. Quiz
Unit 2: Interpersonal Communication
In this unit, students will learn about: basic communication guidelines, effective attitudes and behaviors, types of group communication models, and how to give and receive directions.
Lessons
1. General Guidelines
2. Group Communication
3. Directions
4. Quiz
Unit 3: Communication Barriers
In this unit, students will learn about: personal, cultural, physical, and environmental communication barriers that may affect interactions between people or groups and how to overcome them.
Lessons
1. Personal Barriers
2. Cultural Barriers
3. Physical Barriers
4. Environmental Barriers
5. Quiz
Unit 4: Communicating with Patients
In this unit, students will learn about: communication between health care workers and patients as they define the stages of interaction and explain the health care worker's role in patient education.
Lessons
1. Interaction
2. Education
3. Quiz
Unit 5: Documentation
In this unit, students will learn about: medical records documentation as they distinguish between subjective and objective information, practice completing a health history form, and understand confidentiality.
Lessons
1. Documents
2. Reporting
3. Quiz
Unit 6: Communication Technology
In this unit, students will learn about: communication technologies, telephone etiquette, taking telephone messages, pagers, facsimile machines, and electronic mail.
Lessons
1. Telephone Skills
2. Other Technologies
3. Quiz
Phase 3: Reflect
Activity: Reflection Questions and Discussion
In this activity, students will journal about: the importance of being a good listener; attitudes and behaviors that promote positive interactions; and how to overcome communication barriers. A class discussion can follow.
Phase 4: Reinforce
Activity: Communication Skills
In this activity, students work with a partner to write two skits one demonstrating poor and one demonstrating good communication skills.
Activity: Culture/Religion Presentation
In this activity, students research a culture or a religion and how it relates to health care and write a brief report and prepare a presentation. Students practice presenting and fielding questions with a partner.
Activity: Taking Phone Messages
In this activity, students work in groups to take complete and accurate messages while using proper telephone etiquette.
Activity: Communication Diversity Skit
In this activity, students work with a partner to write two skits one demonstrating unsuccessful and one demonstrating successful inter-cultural interaction with a patient from another culture.
Activity: Current Event
Students will review articles for information related to a topic in the module. Once an article is found, students complete a Current Event form.
This module provides an overview of speaking and writing as part of a healthcare team. Students explore types of communication, barriers, diversity, and how to express sensitivity. They review and evaluate examples of written communication, learn to document patient observations, and discuss the role of communication technology.
