To make matters worse, patient education presents more challenges than traditional education. For example, some patients who need to manage their own care after a hospital stay may still be grappling emotionally with their illness and are unable to focus on care issues. They may be on sedatives which undermine their concentration. Little Training Exists Clinicians need strong teaching skills to overcome these odds, yet most have few opportunities to hone a teaching specialty. In some facilities, staff get some help because hospital-based educators and supervisors help them prepare for educational roles.
Training is only one component of the problem, however.
The other problem to accomplishing good patient education is the fact that the therapists are pressed for time. Current staffing shortages in respiratory care and other allied health disciplines certainly take a toll, leaving therapist educators with even less time to fulfill their teaching obligations. When it comes to education, Smith has an edge most therapists don't. He spent two years teaching junior high school before entering respiratory care 21 years ago. As project lead therapist for Spectrum, he now conducts in-service seminars for the 92 therapists who staff the two Spectrum campuses and gets help in staff education from lead therapists at the facility.