EMT Curriculum

1.14.C - Therapeutic Communications

Equipment for this station: - Child Manikin (full body)

Precautions: Do not let the station deteriorate into off-topic chatter. Continue rotating them through one at a time until everyone has had the change to interview both the elderly and pediatric patient.

Objectives: Demonstrate the techniques of successful cross-cultural communication. (pp 108–109)

Setup: - The instructor or student can play the elderly patient. It may be useful for the instructor to demonstrate being the patient once so the students know what to do when it is their turn. - A child manikin can play the pediatric patient Instructions to be read to students: “We are going to practice speaking to a patient of different ages. You will ask the patient his name and complaint keeping in mind the best way to communicate with him”

Elderly: “This patient is 78 years old – please introduce yourself and ask the patient what is wrong.” Pediatric: “This patient is 5 years old – please introduce yourself and ask the patient what is wrong.”

Sample scripts:

Elderly

Pediatric

Rescuer:

Rescuer (at patient’s level):

“Hello Sir, I’m (name) from EMS. What is your name please?”

“Hi buddy, I’m (name) from the ambulance What is your name?”

Patient:

Patient: “Timmy” Rescuer:

“My name is John Smith”

Rescuer:

“OK Mr. Smith – how do you feel today?”

“OK Timmy – what’s the matter today?”

Patient:

Patient:

“I feel light-headed and dizzy”

“My belly hurts”

Rescuer:

Rescuer (at patient’s level):

“Hello Ma’am, I’m (name) from EMS. What is your name please?”

“Hello there, I’m (name) from the ambulance What is your name?”

Patient:

Patient: “Cindy” Rescuer:

“My name is Jane Jones”

Rescuer:

“OK Mrs. Jones – how do you feel today?”

“OK Cindy – what’s the matter today?”

Patient:

Patient:

“I’m short of breath”

“My leg hurts”

Rescuer:

Rescuer (at patient’s level):

“Hello Sir, I’m (name) from EMS. What is your name please?”

“Hello there, I’m (name) from the ambulance What is your name?”

Patient:

Patient: “Johnny” Rescuer:

“My name is Bill Anderson”

Rescuer:

“OK Mr. Anderson – how do you feel today?”

“OK Johny – what’s the matter today?”

Patient:

Patient:

“Please call me Bill”

“My nose is very runny”

Rescuer:

Rescuer:

“OK Bill– how do you feel today?”

“You have a running nose huh? Have you been coughing too?”

Patient:

Patient:

“I have some tremors in my hands – I can’t stop shaking”

“Yes – I have really really bad cough”