Certificate of Graduate Studies in Healthcare Communication

This 15-hour program focuses on two key aspects of communication competencies in the healthcare context: (1) provider-patient communication and (2) provider-provider communication. Effective healthcare provider-patient communication is a central clinical function in building a therapeutic healthcare relationship, increasing patient compliance with instructions, reducing misunderstandings and conflict, and improving the overall satisfaction with the professional relationship. Effective healthcare coordination and collaboration communication depends on understanding important aspects of interpersonal, group, team, and organizational communication among healthcare providers and other professionals whose roles require interaction, diagnostic teamwork, coordinated caregiving, and safe patient handoffs. The increasing role of automated technologies makes understanding the human aspects of communication an important scope of knowledge and expertise.