The Curbsiders Teach #50 From Words to Wisdom: Teaching Communication with Real-time Feedback and Frameworks with Dr. Rene Claxton and Dr. Robert Arnold
May 14, 2025
Dr. Robert Arnold, a leader in palliative care education, and Dr. Rene Claxton, a dedicated medical educator, share their insights on enhancing communication skills in healthcare. They discuss effective feedback strategies that shift focus towards improvement, preparing trainees for challenging conversations. Key frameworks for real-time feedback are explored, along with the importance of empathetic communication and the role of AI in teaching these skills. Their practical tips aim to empower both educators and learners in delivering compassionate patient care.
AI Snips
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Transcript
Episode notes
Operating Room Contamination Story
- Renee Claxton recounts contaminating an entire operating room as a medical student by placing gloves on a sterile instrument table.
- This experience taught her to set clear instructions and expectations to support learners better during tasks.
Communication Enables Ethics
- Ethical dilemmas often arise not from knowing right from wrong but from difficulty communicating about them.
- Effective communication skills are essential to promoting ethical care and palliative medicine.
Positive Feedback Framing
- Frame communication skills as practices to be developed, not fixed personal traits.
- Deliver feedback on specific skills with focus on improvement and positives to reduce learner defensiveness.