Program Summary:  This updated course explores communication in cancer care and highlights the importance of effective, high-quality, bidirectional communication for patients and families.  The course examines the challenges involved in cancer-related communication and acknowledges that better models and strategies are needed.  Research findings, communication models, and demographic and cultural considerations are discussed.

This course is recommended for social workers and counselors and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.   Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course explores explicit and implicit biases in health care and provides an overview of the terminology, the tools used to measure implicit bias, the evidence for implicit bias in health care, the impact of implicit bias in health care, the impact of interventions designed to reduce implicit bias, the key structural factors affecting implicit bias, and the relationship between implicit bias and structural inequities.  The course suggests that implicit bias interventions alone are not enough to reduce biased decision making and health disparities and should be accompanied by other systemic changes.

This course is recommended for social workers and health care professionals and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice. Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:   This course explores potential implicit bias in healthcare by looking at stigmatizing language in the healthcare record. The course highlights a study using machine learning to analyze electronic health records using 15 different patient descriptors:  (non-) adherent, aggressive, agitated, angry, challenging, combative, (non-)compliant, confront, (non-) cooperative, defensive, exaggerate, hysterical, (un-)pleasant, refuse, and resist.  A discussion of results and recommendations are given.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists.

Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course explores the unique challenges and strategies for preventing and treating HIV for people with substance use and/or mental disorders.   You will learn about the interrelated factors that impact HIV prevention and treatment efforts.  Programs and practices are examined, including PrEP, Syringe Services Programs, Contingency and Management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Patient Navigation.

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and it is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

Read the complete description of this course…..

Program Summary:  This course examines OUD in the general medical setting and offers guidance on screening, assessment, DSM-5 diagnosis, and treatment. Healthcare workers in general medical settings are seeing an increasing number of patients with OUD.  They are often a first contact for patients and the primary providers of ongoing clinical care. The course includes information on drug testing and shared decision-making between patients and providers.

“Effective integration of prevention, treatment, and recovery services across health care systems is key to addressing opioid misuse and its consequences and it represents the most promising way to improve access to and quality of treatment.”  –The Surgeon General’s Spotlight on Opioids

This course is recommended for social workers, counselors, and therapists and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

Read the complete description of this course…..