Develops professional communication techniques for diverse healthcare environments and stakeholders.
About this course
Effective communication is at the heart of safe and compassionate healthcare. In PHAR 2120, you will develop the professional communication skills needed to interact confidently with patients, families, and healthcare colleagues. You will practice techniques for active listening, clear instruction-giving, and empathetic dialogue in a variety of clinical scenarios.
The course focuses on both verbal and written communication, ensuring you can document patient information accurately and convey critical details during team handovers. Through role-playing and simulated clinical environments, you will learn to adapt your communication style to different audiences and cultural contexts.
Who takes this course
This course is an elective open to students in the Pharmacy Technician program. It is also recommended for students in the Occupational Therapist & Physiotherapist Assistant program who wish to strengthen their patient interaction skills.
Credits: 3 · Hours: 45
Prerequisites
None
Learning outcomes
- Apply active listening strategies to build rapport with patients and families in clinical settings.
- Communicate clearly and concisely with interprofessional healthcare teams during handovers and case discussions.
- Adapt communication styles to meet the needs of patients with varying health literacy levels.
- Document patient interactions and care plans using standard professional terminology.
- Demonstrate respectful and culturally safe communication practices in diverse healthcare environments.
Evaluation
| Component | Weight (%) |
| Participation and role-play exercises | 30 |
| Mid-term communication assessment | 25 |
| Final written care plan and documentation | 25 |
| Observed structured clinical communication (OSCE) | 20 |