Behavioral Science Unconference
A Two-Day Virtual Event! June 23 & June 25 | 12:00 - 2:15 PM ET
Navgating Challenging Patient Encounters: Communication, Behavior Change & Interdisciplinary Care
This live virtual program is designed for orthotics and prosthetics (O&P) professionals, along with students and residents seeking to strengthen their communication skills, improve patient adherence, and navigate complex clinical interactions with confidence. Through a blend of expert-led presentations and interactive case discussions, participants will explore practical, evidence-informed strategies to enhance patient engagement and support meaningful health behavior change.
From managing difficult conversations to understanding the role of trauma and motivation in patient care, this program emphasizes real-world application. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to improve outcomes across a variety of clinical scenarios, including interdisciplinary settings and chronic disease management.
- ✓Strengthen communication skills for complex and sensitive patient interactions.
- ✓Explore practical strategies for adherence, motivation, and behavior change.
- ✓Apply learning immediately through expert insights and case-based discussion.
What You’ll Learn
By participating in this program, attendees will be able to:
- Identify factors that contribute to challenging patient encounters, including barriers to adherence and behavior change
- Apply communication strategies that support respectful, effective, and patient-centered interactions
- Recognize the impact of trauma and emotional factors on patient engagement and clinical outcomes
- Utilize emotional intelligence (EQ) skills to navigate difficult conversations and build trust
- Differentiate between patient education and motivation, and apply techniques to address ambivalence
- Incorporate adult learning principles into patient education to improve understanding and retention
- Describe the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in patient care, including scope of practice considerations
- Apply learned concepts through case-based discussions to improve clinical decision-making
Registration Options
Register to attend the full 2-day event or register for one of the available single-day options.
Two Days of Practical, Expert-Led Learning
The program combines focused presentations with clinically relevant discussion to help attendees build confidence in challenging patient encounters.
Explore what makes patient interactions difficult, with a focus on adherence, communication barriers, and the foundations of health behavior change.
Gain insight into real-world challenges faced by early-career clinicians and strategies for building confidence in complex situations.
This session explores how leveraging Emotional Intelligence (EQ) allows clinicians to identify the “hidden baseline” of a skeptical patient. By moving from a purely biomechanical assessment to an EQ-driven partnership, clinicians can navigate difficult conversations to improve device acceptance, patient outcomes, and long-term satisfaction.
Understand how adults learn and how to apply these principles to improve patient education and communication.
Examine experiences working within an interprofessional team to educate patients on diagnosis, physical effects, and wound healing, while addressing scope of practice considerations.
Jacalyn Harris, MPO, CPO/L, Assistant Professor, Drexel UniversityExplore strategies to navigate patient ambivalence and effectively support health behavior change.
Why Attend:
Challenging patient encounters are a routine part of clinical practice - but clinicians can develop skills that reduce barriers to effective care. This program provides practical tools and frameworks you can immediately apply to improve communication, strengthen patient relationships, and support better clinical outcomes.
Whether you are supporting adherence, navigating patient ambivalence, or collaborating across disciplines, the sessions are designed to help you respond with greater confidence, clarity, and empathy.
What Sets This Program Apart:
Registration Options
Choose the full 2-day program or register for a single-day option.
| Registration Type | Full Program (2-Day) | 1-Day Option |
|---|---|---|
| Student / Resident | $75 | $50 |
| Behavioral Science Member | $160 | $105 |
| Academy Member | $195 | $125 |
| Non-Member | $270 | $165 |
Join & Save Instantly
Academy Members can add a Behavioral Science Society Membership for just $35 during registration and immediately qualify for the discounted $160 rate—making your total registration cost the same as the standard $195 rate.
That means you get a full year of Society membership at no additional cost.
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