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Thought Leader Session
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Aging Adult Track
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Additional Registration Fee

Professional Development and Education
Concurrent

Words Matter

Sunday, March 22, 2026
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM Central Time
Location: W185

This session will focus on evidence-based strategies for improving communication with patients and families. Speakers, who are communication experts, will walk through the structure of a care conference and provide tips and tricks to set up the critical care clinician for success in family interactions. The session will identify commonly used words and phrases that need to be in our rear-view mirror (e.g., withdraw care, lovely family, eponyms that reflect hate, red man syndrome). Speakers will share real-world examples, offering practical strategies to enhance conversations, prevent common missteps, and lead to trusting relationships with patients and families.

Learning Objectives:

  • Recognize opportunities for improving communication with families
  • Identify triggering words that may decrease trust between the patient/family and care team
  • Reconstruct conversations with patients/families using an evidence-based approach to communication

Presentations:

  • 11:50 AM - 12:05 PM Central Time
    What Not to Say, and What TO Say

    Rhodes Short, MD

  • 12:05 PM - 12:20 PM Central Time
    Mapping Values to Goals

    Tessie October, Professional Member MD – Children's National Hospital

  • 12:20 PM - 12:35 PM Central Time
    Constructing an Effective Care Conference

    Joshua Arenth, MD (he/him/his) – Medical University of South Carolina