Course emphasizes health fields
Clear communication vital, instructor says
by Kathy Daniel, reporter

    Students considering a career in a health-related field should consider enrolling in a new speech course offered on the NE Campus.

   “People planning careers in health fields face unique challenges, different from other careers,” Bonnie Creel, instructor of speech, said.

   Instead of studying general communication skills, this course is aimed at helping students prepare for communicating and dealing with problems in health fields. This includes communicating with patients as well as other professionals.

   T.J. Riffle, student, said this course is beneficial.

   “It lets you know what you need to do in different situations,” he said.

   Creel said the course covers many aspects of the importance of communicating with all patients.

   “The western biomedical perspective is a unique perspective that is not shared in different cultures,” she said.

   Health care professionals face the problem of needing to communicate in an increasingly intercultural population.

   Different cultures also have vastly different beliefs of what causes illness as well as a different view of what is and is not proper communication behavior, Creel said. Learning to be understanding and to give culturally sensitive care is a main topic of this course.

   Another feature of this course is learning to communicate with the elderly, Rachel Cox, student, said.

   “You have to be very aware of respect for elderly,” she said.

   Creel said, “Often these are competent, responsible people. Treating them like a child is demeaning, degrading, insulting and patronizing.”

   She also said that there is the assumption that elderly respond to “baby talk.” While some might, most would not.

   Health care professionals also have to learn how to communicate non-verbally as well as verbally.

   This communication includes gestures, facial expressions and the tone of voice used.

   Riffle said, “You have to make your non-verbal path your verbal.”

   He also said professionals have to learn to read the non-verbal signs from patients.

   This course also covers the power relationship between the professional and the patient. The Internet has changed this relationship because the patient is now more knowledgeable than before.

   According to Cox, “This is a great class for people who are exploring the option of getting into the health care profession.”

   This course is listed as a section of SPCH 1321 Business and Professional Communication, section 22278. Only one section is offered in the Spring 2003 semester, but Creel said the department will open another section if there is demand.

   If interested in this course, but the time of the class is inconvenient, contact Creel at bonnie.creel @tccd.edu. Include the times and days that would be convenient.