Pharmacy Corner
RESOURCES FOR PHARMACY

12/04/2008

PPC Annual Lunch in the Mountains

Nearly 150 delegates of the CSHP Banff Conference, attended Pharmaceutical Partners of Canada’s Annual Lunch in the Mountains. This year our symposia consisted of a great meal and an honored speaker, Dr. Robert Buckman.

The title of his CCCEP accredited presentation was, “How to Be An Effective Communicator-And Still Stay Stupid.” Due to the fact that hospital pharmacists are now at patient bedsides, clinically counseling on health and medication, there is an ever present need for hospital pharmacists to be aware of how they communicate with patients, and to explore how they may improve their communication skills.

While discussing the value gained by optimizing the physical setting of an interaction with the patient, such as privacy and inter-personal space, Dr. Buckman stressed the need for health care givers, such as hospital pharmacists, to get to (and understand) the emotional component of the interaction with the patient. He gave the CSHP audience a simple strategy that focuses on dealing with the emotions of a patient, called the C-L-A-S-S Protocol (Context, Listening Skills, Acknowledgement of Emotions, Strategy, and Summary) The crucial technique being the “Empathic Response,” the most useful method of acknowledging emotions. (i.e.: I know you are afraid)

Dr. Robert Buckman is a medical oncologist at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, and a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He has written many articles and books on doctor-patient communication. For more information on Dr. Buckman, his many books and videos; please see www.drbuckman.com

PPC's Annual Lunch in the Mountains Photo Gallery