Certificate Program
Modern Strategies for Advancing Therapeutic Alliance
Elevate patient care and improve outcomes by mastering communication strategies to build therapeutic alliances and enhance patient engagement.
Browse PlansAlready a subscriber? Sign in to start
About this Certificate Program
This comprehensive program is designed to empower healthcare professionals to engage their patients through a strong therapeutic alliance. Addressing the critical issue of patient drop-offs, these courses delve into the art of effective communication, equipping practitioners with the skills needed to transform passive consumers into actively engaged participants. By understanding patient expectations, employing digital care options, and optimizing communication techniques, healthcare providers will not only improve patient engagement but also contribute to improvements in outcomes, reputation, and reimbursement.
Target audience
While focusing on PTs, AT, and OTs, this certificate program will be beneficial to any clinician looking to elevate their practice through enhanced patient engagement, improved communication strategies, and the establishment of robust therapeutic alliances.
Goals & objectives
-
Define the role of therapeutic alliance in achieving positive patient outcomes
-
Identify and adapt communication strategies based on patient expectations and needs
-
Develop effective patient introductions by applying knowledge of patient expectations and therapeutic relationship development
-
Master concise communication techniques, such as 30-second open and close conversations, for efficient patient interactions
-
Determine the successful path of patient engagement throughout the course of care
-
Leverage skills across digital platforms to enhance engagement and comfort levels in clinical practice
What’s included in the Certificate Program
Accredited Online Courses*
4 hours of online video lectures and patient demonstrations.
Accredited Online Courses*
4 hours of online video lectures and patient demonstrations.
Interactive Learning Assessments
Case-based quizzes to evaluate and improve clinical reasoning.
Certificate Program overview
Section 1
Improving Therapeutic Alliance and Enhancing Patient Engagement 3 ItemsUnderstanding Therapeutic Alliance and Patient Expectations Course
Chapter 1: What Is Therapeutic Alliance, and Why Does It Matter?
Clinicians will gain an understanding of what therapeutic alliance is and why it matters—on an individual patient level, on a community level, and for our entire profession. Therapeutic alliance has the power to improve nearly every meaningful outcome for patients.
Chapter 2: Components and Impact of a Positive Patient–Therapist Relationship
In order to be ready to deliver service to patients in a way that creates therapeutic alliance, we must understand how to present ourselves. In this chapter, the four components of the therapeutic relationship are discussed, and examples are presented of how we achieve them and where we may fall short.
Chapter 3: Understanding Patient Expectations and How They Shape the Experience
Expectations are incredibly powerful in determining how an experience is perceived. In order to deliver an experience our patients value, we must understand the expectations they have when entering our care.
Chapter 4: Therapeutic Alliance Throughout the Course of Care
To fully understand the impact of therapeutic alliance, we must understand how it is developed throughout the course of care. When we understand the points at which we have mutual trust with our patients, we can then go about challenging unhealthy beliefs and habits and helping our patients build better ones.
Building Therapeutic Alliance in the Patient Evaluation Course
Chapter 1: Getting to Know Your Patient
We set the tone for the course of care during our very first interaction with the patient. The verbal and physical cues we use either allow us to start to develop trust or create a difficult barrier to overcome during the rest of the session.
Chapter 2: The Patient Examination and Providing a Treatment Diagnosis
Physical therapists spend a lot of time in training developing the ability to generate a treatment diagnosis with our patients. However, we spend very little time learning how to effectively communicate information to our patients. The latter skill is incredibly important, and patients often expect significantly more from our communication than they receive.
Chapter 3: Providing Treatment in the Initial Visit
There are many treatment options physical therapists can utilize that have similar effects. Learning how to elicit specific patient expectations and preferences is a valuable skill that can help improve patient outcomes.
Chapter 4: Closing the Session
The end of the initial evaluation is one of the most memorable aspects of care for our patients, and how we perform in that portion of the session can determine how effective our care will be and how likely our patients are to drop off. The “30-second close” is an effective strategy for communicating effectively with your patients and ensuring that they’ve had a positive experience.
Chapter 5: Team Strategies for Therapeutic Alliance
In a perfect healthcare environment, we would always be able to have one provider working with the same patient throughout the entire course of care. However, that’s not always reality. Knowing how to communicate, not only within a team of providers but also as a member of each patient’s team, will be important to the success you achieve in building relationships and improving therapeutic alliance.
Chapter 6: Measuring Therapeutic Alliance, and Strategies to Improve
The ability to develop therapeutic alliance with our patients may be the most valuable skill a clinician can have. Therefore, it is imperative that we not only measure how effective we are at developing therapeutic alliance but also make it part of our discussions that we have in mentoring and training.
Enhancing Patient Engagement Throughout the Course of Care Course
Chapter 1: Introduction to Patient Engagement
Patient engagement is a broad term and includes dynamic and relational concepts. The benefits of improving engagement are far-reaching and significant. Therefore, it is important that therapists understand the impact of this material on their patients and start to develop a framework to assess where patients are in their engagement journeys.
Chapter 2: Patient Engagement in the Dependence Phase
Every phase of engagement brings unique opportunities and challenges for our patients. When in the dependence phase, our patients are frequently scared and overwhelmed and, as a result, may not be compliant. It’s important that therapists modify treatment and communication strategies in order to meet patients where they are mentally and emotionally in this stage and help lead patients to higher levels of confidence and independence.
Chapter 3: Patient Engagement in the Empowerment Phase
In the empowerment phase of engagement, patients are becoming more positive and confident. Arriving at this stage allows therapists the opportunity to bring patients into more of an active role in their care and help them become more engaged in their health.
Chapter 4: Patient Engagement in the Self-Determination Phase
Patients in the self-determination phase are the most independent, which brings unique challenges and opportunities. It’s important that we ask patients questions that help them assess what they want from their health and prepare them for what’s next when they have completed their course of care. In addition, communicating well with our patients in this phase will be valuable in creating a community of healthier, more engaged individuals.
Chapter 5: Patient Engagement: Team Strategies
As we add members to the patient’s healthcare team, the high-level communication becomes even more valuable. Therapists need to consider the role of the patient and the family environment in order to maximize the patient's ability to make behavioral change. We also need to communicate information about patient engagement within our own team so that we know not only what to do with a patient, but the context in which we need to deliver those services as well.
Section 2
Digital Strategies for Building Therapeutic Alliance 8 ItemsUtilizing Digital Care to Build Therapeutic Alliance and Patient Engagement Course
Chapter 1: Digital Care Options and the Evolution of Patient Expectations
We explore the options available for providing digital care and highlight the expectations patients have for rehab therapists.
Chapter 2: Meeting People Where They Are
This chapter provides practical strategies to understand and communicate with patients about digital care.
Chapter 3: Digital Engagement: Specific Communication Strategies to Drive Outcomes
Learn and implement key words at key times to enhance the patient experience while using digital care.
Chapter 4: Implementation and Measuring the Impact of Digital Care
This chapter provides tips for therapists to overcome the inertia of current patterns of practice that don’t utilize digital care and methods of measuring the impact of making these changes.
Shifting Patient Expectations for Digital Care Course
Chapter 1: Shifting Patient Expectations for Digital Care
Navigate the changing landscape of patient perspectives in the digital era while fostering stronger therapeutic connections and greater patient satisfaction.
Selling the Benefits of Digital Care Course
Chapter 1: Selling the Benefits of Digital Care
Communicate the advantages of digital care effectively, encouraging patient confidence and active participation in the therapeutic journey.
Setting Intentions With Digital Care Course
Chapter 1: Setting Intentions With Digital Care
Collaboratively establish clear goals through digital platforms to enhance patient engagement and satisfaction.
Building Rapport, Engagement, and Accountability Through Digital Care Course
Chapter 1: Building Rapport, Engagement, and Accountability Through Digital Care
Leverage digital tools to nurture rapport, maintain engagement, and ensure mutual accountability while boosting patient contentment.
Digital Communication Strategies: After the First Visit Course
Chapter 1: Digital Communication Strategies: After the First Visit
Solidify trust and continuity in virtual interactions after the initial meeting to strengthen therapeutic alliances and patient happiness.
Digital Communication Strategies: When Clarity Is Lacking Course
Chapter 1: Digital Communication Strategies: When Clarity Is Lacking
Navigate complex discussions with innovative digital approaches, fostering patient trust and reinforcing the therapeutic relationship.
Digital Communication Strategies: After a Tough Visit Course
Chapter 1: Digital Communication Strategies: After a Tough Visit
Skillfully manage digital communication following challenging sessions, providing ongoing support and empathy for heightened patient satisfaction.
Section 3
Learning Assessment 1 ItemLearning Assessment Quiz
Instructors
Craig Phifer
PT, MHA
CEU approved
4
total hours*
of accredited coursework.
Medbridge accredits each course individually so you can earn CEUs as you progress.
Start “Modern Strategies for Advancing Therapeutic Alliance”
Get this Certificate Program and so much more! All included in the Medbridge subscription.
Browse PlansFrequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Certificate Programs.
Accreditation Hours
Each course is individually accredited and exact hours will vary by state and discipline. Check each course for specific accreditation for your license.
When do I get my certificate?
You will receive accredited certificates of completion for each course as you complete them. Once you have completed the entire Certificate Program you will receive your certificate for the program.
Do I get CEU credit?
Each course is individually accredited. Please check each course for your state and discipline. You can receive CEU credit after each course is completed.
Do I have to complete the courses in order?
It is not required that you complete the courses in order. Each Certificate Program's content is built to be completed sequentially but it is not forced to be completed this way.
How long do I have access to the Certificate Program?
You will have access to this Certificate Program for as long as you are a subscriber. Your initial subscription will last for one year from the date you purchase.
Take the first step with Medbridge
Browse our plans and pricing, or request a demo and let us help you find the right fit for your organization.
Large Organizations
50+ seats
Request a Demo
For larger groups (50+ seats), request a demo to learn more about solution options and pricing for your organization. For detailed pricing and self-service check-out, visit Plans & Pricing.
Thanks for contacting sales!
We'll get back to you soon.