How to Improve Communication with Doctors: Wednesday, Feb 14, 1:00-3:00 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 108 School St, Bennington. Center for Communication in Medicine (CCM) founders Dr. Bernard Bandman and Celia Engel Bandman will offer a SpeakSooner program to help patients and family caregivers prepare for conversations with healthcare providers. An attendee at a recent program said, “CCM offers the community a priceless gift. There is an overwhelming need and thirst for your expertise.”

We often find ourselves not understanding medical language and not knowing the questions to ask. The presenters will use the Difficult Conversations Toolkit to help participants identify and communicate questions and concerns they may have about treatment options, quality of life considerations and supportive care needs.

SpeakSooner programs help improve communication between patients, families and healthcare providers beginning sooner in the course of illness. Visit www.SpeakSooner.org to access the Difficult Conversations Toolkit, read Celia’s blog “A Medical Humanist’s Notes.” and sign up for CCM news updates.

Part of the VCIL workshop series. Please let us know if you would like an ASL interpreter by the Friday before the workshop. These are scent- and chemical-free events. To register, for more information or to request accommodations, contact: Lynn Mazza, 802-442-1876, lmazza@vcil.org