The ABCs: A communication skills course for family medicine learners
Created by DFCM faculty, the ABCs course was designed to help clinicians at any stage of training or their career gain skills in discussing serious illnesses with patients and families.
By the end of the course, clinicians and clinician learners will:
- Appreciate why skillful communication matters
- Learn a set of principles that guide skillful communication
- Adopt an approach to having conversations about serious illness
- Practice communication skills for use when having these conversations
The course is comprised of:
- Three virtual, small group workshops (with expert facilitators and standardized patients)
- Two e-modules that are completed prior to each workshop
All family medicine residents will complete this course during their PGY1 year. Teachers of family medicine residents should familiarize themselves with the course so as to use the same language in their teaching and provide feedback when learners are utilizing skills developed through this course.
The faculty development resources include the following:
- Two minute overview video: An introductory resource for teachers of postgraduate family medicine learners
- One-pager: The ABCs Communications Skills course: Teaching Tips for Clinical Supervisors
- 30-minute module: This module is for teachers of family medicine residents and summarizes the skills and main lessons of the ABCs course
For further information, please visit abcseducation.com.