Speak Up! Advocating for Yourself and Others in Healthcare

Overview

Healthcare settings can be intimidating for many people. Research shows that often people hesitate or choose not to speak up when they have questions or concerns in these situations. Research also shows that medical error is common and that communication, such as speaking up, can help prevent patient harm. This course is designed to help you feel more comfortable speaking up when you are in the healthcare setting, such as the hospital, clinics or a physician's office, so that you are heard, understood, and your needs are met.

This in an incredibly important skill to have so that you can protect yourself and loved ones from medical error. Through module completion, you will learn about the who, what, when, where, why, and how of speaking up in healthcare settings. We hope that this course helps you feel comfortable speaking up for yourself and those you care about.

Syllabus

Upon completion of this course, one will be able to:

Describe what speaking up is and barriers to doing so (module 1)
Explain the role of speaking up in healthcare (module 1)
Recognize that patients and caregivers are an important part of the healthcare team (module 2)
Describe an ideal learning environment and effective communication techniques (module 2)
Develop communication techniques and a tool that can help overcome barriers to speaking up (module 3)
Describe three strategies to help when interacting with healthcare professionals (module 3)

Course Materials:

All materials are freely available within the course. Additional resources and optional readings can be easily accessed and downloaded from the References, Resources, and Optional Readings sections of this course.

Discussions

Students earning the verified certificate are expected to participate in each module discussion posting a substantive reflection (4-5 sentences). Students are also expected to adhere to the rules of etiquette related to online discussions.

Our learning community is diverse in experience, knowledge, language, and culture. This provides us with an incredible resource of viewpoints, and we want to take full advantage of this diversity in our discussions! Please consider the following when you post:

Course Grading and Policy

Activities included in the course:

For those auditing the course, there are no requirements. However, those taking the course for a verified certificate must complete the following:

Review all modules, including associated readings, videos, and handouts provided
Complete the three post-test quizzes at the end of each module (50% of final grade)
Participate in each of the three discussions associated with each module (50% of final grade)

A final grade of 70% is required to earn a certificate.