BRIDGE: Communication Competence in Radiation Care
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Overview Who Should Attend Learning Objectives Program & Faculty Certificate

Overview

Why BRIDGE

Communication competence is measured not by what healthcare professionals say, but by what patients understand. Patient autonomy and engagement are central to the outcome of their care, yet meaningful engagement requires shared decision making between patient and provider, built on complex information about context, benefit, risk, and uncertainty. Scientifically accurate information alone does not ensure effective communication.

Informed by scholarship made possible through the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), AAPM, and the American Institute of Physics (AIP), BRIDGE emphasizes communication competence in practice: principles of good communication and how they can be applied, evaluated, and continuously improved to support patient understanding, trust, and meaningful participation in radiation care decisions.

The workshop combines foundational communication principles with practical, case-based applications drawn from diagnostic imaging, radiation oncology, and nuclear medicine, emphasizing applied competence and interdisciplinary collaboration through expert presentations, patient perspectives, case studies, interactive discussions, practical exercises, and a radiation care mystery game.

Audience

Who Should Attend

Radiation Care Professionals

Technologists, physicists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, therapists, and dosimetrists

Healthcare Professionals

Referring physicians, physician specialists, nurses, administrators, and regulators

Trainees

Residents, graduate students, and medical students

Patient Advocates

Individuals representing and supporting the patient voice in radiation care

Outcomes

Learning Objectives

Participants will gain literacy and competencies across the following areas of Radiation Care Communication (RCC):

Principles of contextual patient- and caregiver-centered care
Principles of patient-centered communication
Radiation risk science based on the current state of the field
Psychology of risk comprehension and communication
Application of RCC across diagnostic, therapeutic, and nuclear medicine contexts
Empowering patient-facing care professionals for RCC
Anticipating and responding to common patient questions and concerns
Communicating uncertainty and transparency without amplifying fear
The professional role of diverse care team members in RCC
Collaborative care across stakeholders, clinicians, and leadership
Designing, evaluating, and improving RCC workflows in clinical systems
Demonstrating measurable improvement in communication competence

Recognition

RCC Competence Certificate

In-person, fully engaged participants will receive an RCC Competence Certificate (RC4) recognizing demonstrated communication competence in radiation care.

Contact

For contact at Duke please contact dukebridge26@gmail.com.