OFD 2024 Bilingual (English / French)

Session Detail

Saturday
Nov 2 2024
Plenary session
Navigating Difficult Conversations with Patients
Presenters
Sara Beattie
Kyla Bailey
Photo of Sara Beattie
Photo of Sara Beattie
Sara Beattie
Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Psychologist, Tom Baker Cancer Centre — Calgary, Alberta

Sara Beattie, PhD. R. Psych.

Dr. Sara Beattie is a Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Psychologist supporting the Alberta Blood and Marrow Transplant and Hematology Programs at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Using an integrative approach, she cares for patients and their loved ones with a focus on reducing distress and improving quality of life. Dr. Beattie has a special interest in the adolescent young adult (AYA) population and helping couples cope with cancer diagnoses, treatment, survivorship, and end of life. Dr. Beattie is a clinician investigator and is actively involved in program development, evaluation, research and collaborations with the interdisciplinary team.

Sara Beattie
Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta
Photo of Kyla Bailey
Photo of Kyla Bailey
Kyla Bailey
Clinical Fulltime, Pharmacy, Tom Baker Cancer Clinic — Calgary, Alberta
Kyla graduated from University of Saskatchewan in 2003 and currently works for Alberta Health Services at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre as a clinical hematology/BMT pharmacist. She has practiced in many diverse settings, including community, geriatrics, hospital outpatient, and oncology. Since joining the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in 2014, she first developed her oncology clinical skills in the Oral Chemotherapy Management program, before moving into the Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant clinics. She obtained her Advanced Prescribing rights in 2014, which allows pharmacist-led supportive care management. Kyla continues to be involved as a preceptor for the Alberta Health Services Residents and the University of Alberta PharmD students during their hematology rotations.
Kyla Bailey
Tom Baker Cancer Clinic, Calgary, Alberta

Presentation Summary
Pharmacy practitioners are at the frontline of patient care and often directly involved in communication with patients experiencing high distress. Patients may express heightened emotions that lead to challenging or confrontational interactions when attempting to deliver patient care. During this presentation we will review common psychosocial challenges experienced by patients during diagnosis and treatment and strategies to implement as well as common communication behaviors to avoid when navigating difficult conversations. 

Learning Objectives:
1. Summarize common emotions expressed by patients during illness.
2. Identify patient perspectives and personal reactions during difficult interactions.
3. Discuss communication strategies for managing sensitive conversations using empathetic language.
4. Implement practical assessment of emotions and strategies through patient case scenarios.