On June 14, Center for Communication in Medicine’s (CCM) Dr. Bernard Bandman will present the keynote address at the American College of Surgeons (Vermont Chapter) Spring Conference in Quechee, VT. His topic will be Difficult Conversations with Patients and Families Facing Serious Illness.
As Dr. Bandman notes, “Surgeons often find themselves having difficult conversations about results of biopsies or surgeries. What often complicates communication with patients and families is that surgeons may not be in a position to answer questions regarding treatment plan or prognosis.” Dr. Bandman will address the challenges surgeons face in honestly communicating medical findings while trying to ease distress about uncertainty and worry. The presentation will highlight the use of CCM’s Difficult Conversations Toolkit in addressing these challenges using real life patients’ experiences in hearing ‘bad news’.