The Message is the Messenger: Building trust through effective health care communication

Pittsburgh, PA US
June 17, 2026

This activity is designed to change the communication approach currently taken by multiple HCP's, and will focus on the AIMS approach, which differs from so many current HCP approaches that include resistance, and participatory recommendations, rather than the necessary presumptive recommendation strategy.

Target Audience

This activity is designed for an audience of physicians, nurses, physician associates, pharmacists, dentists, and other healthcare professionals.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe and apply the AIMS (Announce, Inquire, Mirror, Secure) methodology when addressing patient questions about vaccines.
  • Demonstrate how AIMS can be adapted to address resistance to other clinical or operational recommendations.
  • Identify and analyze common mistakes HCPs make when responding to vaccine related or other patient questions.
  • Explain and implement presumptive recommendations for healthcare guidance and interventions.
  • Differentiate among three suboptimal recommendation styles used by HCPs and evaluate the flaws of each.
  • Demonstrate how clear, confident, direct communication builds trust, reduces resistance, and improves patient outcomes—especially for vaccinations.
  • Analyze how and why effective communication is essential to high quality healthcare.
  • Explain why, despite post pandemic declines in institutional trust, local healthcare providers remain trusted messengers.
  • Apply strategies that maximize patient trust, influence behavior change, and drive quality outcomes.
  • Use a set of communication tools and rhetorical techniques to respond effectively to any patient question—even when the answer is not immediately known.
  • Describe and apply five organizational strategies (Hook, Frame, Sandwich, Bridge, Bow) for structuring responses to patient questions.
  • Assess how the tone, structure, and content of an answer influence patient understanding.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 7.00 AAPA Category 1 CME

    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 7.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

  • 7.00 ACPE Pharmacist

    Pharmacists
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this continuing education activity for 7.00 contact hours.

  • 7.00 ADA CERP

    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this activity for 7.00 continuing education credits.

    Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider, or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

  • 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

    Physicians
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 7.00 ANCC Contact Hours

    Credit being awarded: 7.00 ANCC contact hours

  • 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Non-MD

    Non-Physicians Seeking AMA Credit
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

     

Course opens: 
06/17/2026
Course expires: 
08/31/2026
Event starts: 
06/17/2026 - 8:00am EDT
Event ends: 
06/17/2026 - 5:00pm EDT
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
0
Rockwell Park
2514 Thomas Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
United States

It is the policy of AKH Inc. to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of its continuing education activities. The author must disclose to the participants any significant relationships with ineligible companies whose products or devices may be mentioned in the activity or with the commercial supporter of this continuing education activity. Identified conflicts of interest are mitigated by AKH prior to accreditation of the activity. AKH planners and reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use and Investigational Product

This educational activity may include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer

This course is designed solely to provide the healthcare professional with information to assist in his/her practice and professional development and is not to be considered a diagnostic tool to replace professional advice or treatment. The course serves as a general guide to the healthcare professional, and therefore cannot be considered as giving legal, nursing, medical, or other professional advice in specific cases. AKH Inc. specifically disclaims responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the course, for undetected error, or through participants misunderstanding of the content. If you would like to opt out from future communications from AKH please send an email to [email protected] with your information with "Opt Out" in the subject line.

Committee Member, Planner, Staff(s)

Dorothy Duffy, RPh

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Chad Hermann

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Joyce Winkler

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Author, Writer(s)

Todd Wolynn

has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Merck;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Pfizer;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Sanofi;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Moderna;.
Medical Director(s)

Todd Wolynn

has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Moderna;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Merck;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Pfizer;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Sanofi;.
Reviewer(s)

Dorothy Caputo, MA BSN RN

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Dorothy Duffy, RPh

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Joyce Winkler

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.
Speaker, Instructor, Faculty(s)

Chad Hermann

has no relevant financial relationships to disclose at this time.

Todd Wolynn

has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Sanofi;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Pfizer;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Merck;.
has a financial relationship (Consultant) with Moderna;.

 In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare and Trusted Messenger Program (TMP). AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare 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.

 

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 7.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.

 

Available Credit

  • 7.00 AAPA Category 1 CME

    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare has been authorized by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 7.00 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

  • 7.00 ACPE Pharmacist

    Pharmacists
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this continuing education activity for 7.00 contact hours.

  • 7.00 ADA CERP

    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this activity for 7.00 continuing education credits.

    Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider, or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at ADA.org/CERP.

  • 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit

    Physicians
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 7.00 ANCC Contact Hours

    Credit being awarded: 7.00 ANCC contact hours

  • 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ Non-MD

    Non-Physicians Seeking AMA Credit
    AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

     

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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