Preservice Health Training
The Preservice Health Training Project was developed out of a need to train
healthcare workers to be responsive to the needs of persons with developmental
disabilities. Each Website is designed to impart substantive knowledge to
medical providers regarding developmental disabilities and to familiarize them
with interacting with such individuals in a clinical setting. All PHT tutorials
are based on multi-media, interactive, virtual patient presentations and are
evidence-based. All include built-in assessment tools. Below are descriptions of
and links to each tutorial.
Women’s
Healthcare
This tutorial presents a physician conducting a reproductive examination on an
individual with a cognitive developmental disability. The Carrie case
illustrates treatment for a patient whose communication skills are somewhat
limited and whose previous experience with a reproductive examination had
increased her anxiety. Interacting with a personal assistant is also modeled.
This tutorial could be useful for health providers, such as physicians,
physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or students entering into any of
these professions, who treat women’s reproductive health issues.
Nurse Practitioner Training
This tutorial presents two cases that model a nurse practitioner treating an
adolescent with Down syndrome and an infant with developmental disabilities. The
Julia case illustrates conducting an examination for a patient with Down
syndrome whose intellectual disability alters her communication and some of her
understanding. The Olivia case demonstrates a well-baby check-up with a
1-year-old infant who was born premature and has developmental delays. Both
cases could be useful to physicians, nurse practitioners, and/or students
entering into any of these professions.
Physician Assistant
Training
This tutorial, similar to the Nurse Practitioner Training, presents two cases
that model a physician assistant treating an adolescent with Down syndrome and
an infant with developmental delays. The Julia case illustrates conducting a
well-examination for a patient with Down syndrome whose intellectual
disabilities alters her communication and some of her understanding. The Olivia
case demonstrates a well-baby check-up with a 1-year-old infant who was born
premature and has developmental delays. Both cases could be useful to
physicians, physician assistants, and/or students entering into any of these
professions.
Medical Students
This tutorial presents two cases that model physicians treating an individual
with cerebral palsy and a patient with autism. The Bryan case illustrates
treatment for a patient whose medical issues are confounded by his communication
challenges and the cerebral palsy itself. The Jay case demonstrates
communicating with and treating a 9-year-old child with autism. Both cases could
be useful to physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and/or
students entering into any of these professions.
Dental Healthcare
This tutorial presents two cases that model a dentist treating a 10-year old
child who has Down syndrome and an adult patient who has dual sensory impairment
(hearing and sight). The Hunter case illustrates treatment for a child whose
age, communication difficulties, and overall understanding require different
treatment approaches. The Daniel case demonstrates communicating with and
treating an adult with deaf-blindness whose needs include a communication device
and a personal assistant. Both cases could be useful to practicing dentists,
dental faculty, or dental students entering a dental profession.
Mental Health
This module was created to improve mental health professionals’ abilities to provide competent, ethical services to adults with intellectual disabilities. This training tool, delivered via virtual patient scenarios and printed information, includes modules specifically directed toward disability etiquette, developmental and intellectual disabilities, accommodations, clinical considerations, ethics and legal issues, sexuality and relationships, and therapeutic progress and termination. Supporting references and other resources are also listed.
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