English for Health Professionals: Doctors is delivered online at post-intermediate to advanced English level. Users will watch and analyse three medical consultations, complete language and pronunciation exercises and practise the key communication strategies required by health professionals. This course also includes an extensive range of print resources.
English for Health Professionals: Doctors has been designed to assist overseas trained doctors to meet the spoken language proficiency levels required for registration in Australia and other English-speaking countries
This unit demonstrates the communication skills required for taking a patient history. Watch and analyse video clips of a consultation, focusing on the language and pronunciation features of the different stages of medical history taking. Practise asking questions using appropriate forms and intonation. Examine the role of active listening in patient consultations.
Unit 2 focuses on the second part of the consultation. The GP conducts a brief physical examination, gives a diagnosis and explains the condition to the patient and then discusses management strategies. The language focus is on giving instructions, expressing degrees of certainty and giving clear explanations. Pronunciation training includes work on chunking, key words and tones.
This unit explores the core skills needed for taking a patient's history and listening and responding to the patient's concerns. Practise verbal and non-verbal strategies for building rapport and for encouraging the flow of information.
Unit 4 demonstrates the core skills needed for explaining a diagnosis and involving the patient in appropriate management. These include providing clear information about illness and test results, presenting the patient with options for management and putting appropriate safety-net and follow-up arrangements in place.
Unit 5 features video clips of a follow-up consultation for a patient with chest pain. The doctor reports test results and then counsels the patient on giving up smoking. The core skills needed for lifestyle change counselling are explored. These include inviting the patient to talk, listening and responding empathically and giving clear, non-confrontational advice.
This unit provides listening exercises of useful phrases.