HCPs often lack experience and/or training in communicating with PWID. To help facilitate effective patient-centered communication, HCPs require clear guidelines and competency development on this vulnerable patient population. The R.A.F.T. (Respect, Accommodation, Follow-Up, Time) training was developed to provide an evidence-based model for effective communication interactions between HCPs, PWID and caregivers. R.A.F.T. was designed for HCPs across the continuum of care, from those who schedule appointments and welcome patients at reception to those involved in ongoing care.

This webcast will provide a general overview of intellectual disabilities and will introduce the R.A.F.T. model and how its implementation may improve interactions between the HCPs and PWID. Case studies will highlight a variety of scenarios designed to educate HCPs about techniques to address patient and/or caregiver behaviors that may hinder the effective implementation of R.A.F.T. The advocacy role of the R.A.F.T. model to ensure PWID receive a beneficial health care experience will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Identify the various forms of intellectual disabilities, including how the level of impairment determines the level of support and communication required from the HCPs;
• List the key components of the R.A.F.T. model, including how and when it should be implemented and the effects it may have on interactions between HCPs, PWID and caregivers; and
• State the advocacy role of the R.A.F.T. model to ensure PWID receive a beneficial health care experience.

Presenter
Brenda L. MacArthur, PhD
Health Communication Researcher and Training Specialist
Fairfax, Virginia

About the Presenter
Brenda L. MacArthur, PhD is an instructor in the department of communication at George Mason University. She earned her BA in communication from Bryant University, and her MA in communication studies with a concentration in health from Texas State University. Dr. MacArthur’s research is centered on the intersection of health and instructional communication. She has conducted research on provider-patient and provider-provider communication. Specifically, her research focuses on educating HCPs about effective communication practices when exchanging health information with patients and colleagues. She has conducted research focused on how socialization experiences and subsequent identities affect physicians’ communication in the workplace, as well as research focused on how physicians use communication strategies to engage in or avoid discussing particular topics with patients. Her recent work also focuses on the role of interactive communication technology, which contributes new relevance to the study of miscommunication and inappropriate communication in both the education and health care contexts. As an avid researcher, Dr. MacArthur has presented her work at national and international conferences. As a graduate student, she received funding for her thesis and dissertation research and continues to conduct research within externally funded projects. She currently serves as the program evaluator for two community-level health interventions funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

Disclosures of Relevant Financial Relationships
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support^SM, OptumHealth Education requires all those involved in the development of activity content to disclose their relevant financial relationships. An individual has a relevant financial relationship if such person (or his/her spouse/partner) has a financial relationship in any amount occurring in the last 12 months with a commercial interest whose products or services are discussed in the activity content over which the individual has control. OptumHealth Education ensures that the content is independent of commercial bias.

Faculty Disclosure
Brenda L. MacArthur has reported that she has no relevant financial relationships.

Activity Planners
	Michael Abbott, PhD Retired University Vice President Special Olympics Volunteer Special Olympics, Texas Richard M. Brown, EdD, CFRE Vice President of Resource Development Special Olympics, Texas Sarah Chart-Hart, RN Senior Director OptumHealth Education Rebecca Gleason, RN, CCM Activity Manager OptumHealth Education	Margaret Larsen President/CEO Special Olympics, Texas Tina Rydland, PharmD Crystal Clear Rx Denver, Colorado V. Silverstein, MD Eagle Creek Medical Communications Durham, North Carolina

Activity Planner Disclosures
Drs. Abbott, Brown and Silverstein and Ms. Larsen have no relevant financial relationships to report.
Ms. Chart and Ms. Gleason have indicated that they are employees of and own stock in UnitedHealth Group.
Dr. Rydland has indicated that she is a consultant for HAP Innovation.

Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating in or receiving credit for this activity.
For information on applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.

Participants will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the activity, which includes the following:

• Completing the entire activity
• Completing the Pre- and Post-activity Assessments, Activity Evaluation, and Application for Certificate of Credit forms

You must be logged into your account to participate in this activity. Get started by clicking “Begin” and viewing the “CE Info”; then follow the prompts at the bottom of the screen. At the end of the activity, you will be able to view, save or print your certificate of participation. The Area of Practice you indicated in your profile corresponds with your certificate type. A complete listing of all of your activities can be found under “My Account,” “My Activities.”

Method for Calculating CE Credit
CE credit was calculated by the complexity of content.

Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by OptumHealth Education and UnitedHealthcare — Community & State. OptumHealth Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation Statements
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 1.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Nurses
The participant will be awarded up to 1.00 contact hour(s) of credit for attendance and completion of supplemental materials.

Nurse Practitioners
The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.

Pharmacists
This activity is approved for 1.00 contact hour(s) ([0.10] CEU) in states that recognize ACPE.
Attending the full program will earn 1.00 contact hour(s).
Unique Activity Number(s): JA0007123-9999-18-067-H04-P

Pharmacy Technicians
This activity is approved for 1.00 contact hour(s) ([0.10] CEU) in states that recognize ACPE.
Attending the full program will earn 1.00 contact hour(s).
Unique Activity Number(s): JA0007123-9999-18-067-H04-T

Physicians
OptumHealth Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AAPC-Certified Coders
This program meets AAPC guidelines for 1.0 CEU. Can be used for Core A, CANPC and CHONC with successful completion of post-test for continuing education units.

PAs
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Case Managers
The Commission for Case Manager Certification has approved this program for a maximum of 1.00 clock hour(s) for Certified Case Managers (CCM).

Psychologists, Counselors, and/or Marriage and Family Therapists
This event is co-sponsored by R. Cassidy Seminars.

Satisfactory Completion
Participants must have attended the entire web-based activity and completed an evaluation in order to receive a certificate. Partial credit is not available.

Psychologists
R. Cassidy Seminars is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education for psychologists. R. Cassidy Seminars maintains responsibility for this program. 1.00 CE hour.

Counselors and/or Marriage and Family Therapists
CA: The Board of Behavioral Sciences has deferred CE course approvals to APA for its licensees. See those approvals under Psychologists.
IL: Illinois Dept. of Professional Regulation, Approved Continuing Education Sponsor, #168-000141. (1) hours.
OH: Provider approved by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board for (1) clock hours, #RCST110701
TX: Approved CE Sponsor through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage & Family Therapists. Provider #151. 1 CE hour.
Other States: If your state is not specifically listed, nearly all state Counselor and MFT boards accept either APA or ASWB approval, or are reciprocal with other state licensing board approvals, such as those listed below. Check with your board to be sure. The Ohio Board includes Counselors and MFTs.

Disability Access
If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 14 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification.

Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often and, while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling.

Attendance
A certificate of attendance will be provided to learners upon completion of activity requirements, enabling participants to register with licensing boards or associations that have not been preapproved for credits. To apply for credit types not listed above, participants should use the procedure established by the specific organization with which they wish to obtain credit.

Provided By
This activity is jointly provided by OptumHealth Education and UnitedHealthcare — Community & State.

Commercial Support
There was no commercial support received for this activity.

Hardware/Software Requirements
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