Enhancing Health Care Encounters Through Collaboration with Individuals Who Experience Developmental Disabilities and Their Companions
Seminar description:
Individuals who experience developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, or intellectual disability, face pervasive health disparities and limited access to quality health care services. This seminar outlines insights from a recent community research project seeking to establish needs related to individuals with disabilities preparing for and attending health care visits. Survey and interview data provided further rationale for developing an asynchronous, online course to advance health care professionals’ knowledge and skills related to meeting the unique needs of persons living with disabilities and their support systems (e.g., caregivers). Attendees will be encouraged to share input on the curriculum in addition to their related lived and professional experiences during this interactive session.
Addressing the theme:
This seminar seeks to address the conference theme related to ‘Interprofessional collaboration and advocacy to address health equity, racism and bias in practice.’ Individuals who experience developmental disabilities are at an increased likelihood of being in poor health. These persons have a lower likelihood of receiving preventative services (e.g., screenings, vaccinations), have higher rates of poor dental health, and experience poorly managed chronic health conditions (Janicki et al., 1999). Poor health care experiences can lead to avoidance of future visits or reliance on others for communication of symptoms. As a result, preventative care and hygiene may be neglected and lead to increased risks associated with illness and chronic conditions. Interprofessional collaborative practice and education are critical to addressing these disparities.
Learning objectives:
After attending this session, participants will be able to:
1. Describe barriers to quality health care faced by individuals who experience disabilities.
2. Identify practical, easy to implement strategies for enhancing participation of persons living with disabilities in their health care encounters.
3. Investigate opportunities for process adaptation to enhance health care access for individuals who experience disabilities.
Participants will gain actionable skills such as:
1. Effective strategies for identifying and addressing behavior and sensory processing needs related to health care encounters.
2. Techniques for enhancing participation of nonspeaking or minimally speaking individuals in health care encounters.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (National Center OICPD). The National Center OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
The National Center OICPD (JA#: 4008105) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs).
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Learners can claim CE credit by completing the Daily Evaluation.