The VitalTalk Method: Second Edition
published by cambridge university press
Navigating Communication with Seriously Ill Patients
Balancing Honesty with Empathy and Hope
Endorsements from the Community
“The older I get, the clearer it becomes that our relationships with patients and their loved ones are the foundation of health and healing during the long course of a serious illness. This book helps us to step away from our checklists and learn how to build genuine human connections with the people we are caring for.”
“Navigating Communication with Seriously Ill Patients is a comprehensive guide to effective communication for clinicians who care for patients living with serious illness. Written by world-renowned educators, this expansive new edition will help clinicians not only understand the structure of compassionate serious illness communication but also the rationale behind it. Finally, the book guides readers beautifully in the personal learning strategies that will allow for a deepening of skills over time. This book will help you be a better clinician.”
“Navigating Communication with Seriously Ill Patients” is a transformative resource that will leave a lasting impact on those dedicated to providing high quality medical care for persons with serious illness and their families. Written by physicians who epitomize the very best of the profession, this book deconstructs the intricate challenges of conveying information to patients facing serious illnesses. Its practical tools both enhance the reader’s own communication skills’ abilities and, empower them to educate others. Every clinician committed to fostering meaningful connections with their patients and their families needs this book on their desk.”
“The updated Navigating Communication with Seriously Ill Patients presents foundational communication strategies along the trajectory of serious illness, now with critical attention to inclusiveness. It is an essential text for all who care for seriously ill patients of any age and life stage and their families.”
What’s Inside
When clinicians communicate effectively, patients retain more information, have higher trust and a better quality of life. Such a patient-centred approach is the future of clinical care, and this book is an essential how-to guide on improving these skills.
- Grounded in innovative and evidence-based methodology.
- Emphasis is placed on the roles privilege, race, and power play in the medical encounter, and new tools are provided to help clinicians navigate this landscape with greater self-awareness and sensitivity.
- How to be clearer when sharing information, more competent at understanding patient concerns, and more effective when making recommendations.
Book Authors
Robert M. Arnold
The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh
Robert M. Arnold, MD, FACP, FAAHPM is Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine and the Center for Bioethics and Health Law at the University of Pittsburgh. He was the Past-President of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities as well as the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM).
James A. Tulsky
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
James A. Tulsky, MD, FACP, FAAHPM is the Poorvu Jaffe Chair of the Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Chief of the Division of Palliative Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a co-founder of VitalTalk.
Anthony L. Back
University of Washington Medical Center
Anthony L. Back, MD is Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. His research into patient-oncologist communication led to the founding of VitalTalk. His awards include the American Cancer Society (ACS) Pathfinder in Palliative Care Award, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology Walther Cancer Foundation Palliative and Supportive Care Award.
Gordon J. Wood
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago
Gordon J. Wood, MD, MSCI, FAAHPM is Associate Professor of Medicine and Medical Education in the Section of Palliative Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr Wood currently serves as the Associate Director of the Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (EPEC) Program and as a Strategic Partner and Distinguished Faculty with VitalTalk.
Elise C. Carey
Mayo Clinic, Minnesota
Elise C. Carey, MD, FACP, FAAHPM is Associate Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and the Education & Faculty Development Chair for the Mayo Clinic Palliative Medicine Specialty Council. Dr. Carey currently serves on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and as a Strategic Partner and Distinguished Faculty with VitalTalk.
Holly B. Yang
Scripps Health, San Diego, California
Holly Yang MD MSHPEd, HMDC, FACP, FAAHPM is the Scripps Health Co-Director of the UCSD/Scripps Health Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program, and a Voluntary Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at University of California, San Diego. She has been involved in interprofessional palliative care education nationally and internationally and has served as President of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Media & PR Inquiries
For trade media or public relations inquiries, please reach out to Nancy Michaels directly at nancy@vitaltalk.org or via mobile at (617) 905-4711.