Interpersonal & Therapeutic Communication Skills

Learn evidence-based communication techniques such as relationship-centered communication and motivational interviewing to engage patients, explore their concerns, demonstrate empathy, actively listen, share information, foster collaboration, and motivate behavior change.

Primary Care Office Visit: Antibiotics trains providers to apply relationship-centered communication via role-play conversation with a virtual patient requesting antibiotics for a cough. Build trust by eliciting the patient’s concerns and effectively collaborate on a treatment plan by expressing empathy and providing clear guidance with plain language. Developed with the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Virtual Interview Skills Training System introduces providers to four clients living with chronic conditions. Providers interact with each patient over the course of multiple visits to help each develop and adhere to a treatment management plan. Play each simulation in Basic Mode to gain knowledge and experience, then use Advanced Mode to increase the challenge.

Talk About Opioid Use Disorder introduces providers to a patient that has been flagged by the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program for receiving opioid prescriptions from multiple physicians. Providers learn effective techniques to talk with patients about their opioid use, elicit responses to assess opioid use disorder (OUD), and motivate patients to consider appropriate treatment options.

Building a More Inclusive Workplace: LGBTQ prepares client-facing team members to have a professional conversation with a person who identifies as LGBTQ. Users engage in two role-play conversations where they learn how to create and maintain an inclusive work environment where LGBTQ clients and staff feel safe, valued, and respected.

Developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day offers an evidence-based approach to introduce and discuss the HPV vaccine with families. Providers practice making a strong vaccine recommendation to reduce objections to clinical guidance, and elicit and address parents’ concerns as necessary to reduce hesitancy.

Developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, ChangeTalk trains providers in the application of Motivational Interviewing when engaging young patients and their parents. Providers practice relationship-centered communication in three role-play conversations to elicit parents’ concerns, identify and amplify their reasons for change, and collaborate on an achievable plan for change.

Developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, Artificial Perfection: Talking with Teens About Performance Enhancement introduces providers to three teenagers using various prescription stimulants and over-the-counter supplements. Providers practice sharing information about risk with each patient, encouraging honest disclosure about their substance use, and building motivation to adhere to a reduction plan.

Use a client-centered approach to help a home care client identify activities of daily living (ADLs) they find challenging and develop goals to improve their quality of life, then apply motivational interviewing techniques to help them achieve their goals. . Developed in collaboration with Johns Hopkins School of Nursing CAPABLE Program.

PersonAbility^TM, available from Kognito's sister company NHA, helps healthcare providers and health professions students build essential soft skills to effectively interact with patients and colleagues. Learners encounter three role-play scenarios to practice communicating effectively with colleagues and patients, demonstrate emotional intelligence and professionalism, and think critically about how to handle difficult situations.

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Civility Mentor, available from Kognito's sister company ATI, educates learners about the consequences of incivility and helps them develop essential skills to foster civility, communicate more assertively and effectively, and address incivility in academic and healthcare environments. Learners engage in four brief role-play conversations in clinical and academic environments.

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Building Family Bonds: A Virtual Home Visit trains providers to use in-home coaching best practices. Providers help a parent learn reading techniques to use with their toddler to build confidence and motivation to use them independently. Developed with the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Developed in collaboration with the CDC Foundation, Talking about Infection & Neutropenia Awareness introduces providers to an older patient preparing to begin chemotherapy treatment for lung cancer. Providers practice sharing information about the risk of neutropenia during chemotherapy using plain language to ensure the patient understands what actions to take if he suspects he has symptoms.

Providers learn techniques for sharing the results of a mental health screener with a cancer patient, and practice collaborating on a plan to address the patient’s anxiety and depression. Developed in collaboration with the CDC Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors.

At-Risk in Primary Care: Adults introduces healthcare providers to two patients exhibiting signs of mental health risk. Providers must address their patient’s chief complaint and use effective communication techniques to investigate any underlying mental health issues, and refer for additional treatment when appropriate.

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