CONSENT FOR TRAINEE PARTICIPATION IN ABORTION CARE
There are various ways to present the training arrangement to staff and patients, reminding them that this is part of a regional and / or national process of medical education.
- Prior to training initiation at a site, discuss ways for your staff to talk about the training with patients and provide a script. They should feel comfortable presenting it.
- Describe training as an initiative to address reproductive access.
- Staff can explain, “You will be seen by two clinicians today; one from our clinic and one who is training from (hospital or name of program).”
- Consider posting information explaining the training partnership in waiting rooms and/or on the clinic website. One example is “A partnership has been established with the (university, hospital or residency) to expand access to services by training more clinicians in reproductive health. This is a center of training and excellence.”
- Consider including training in a general consent form for care and services.
- Regardless of policy, it is good practice to ensure that a care team member has verbally checked in with your patient regarding trainee involvement.
- It is important to reduce set-ups for coercion. Informed consent for trainee involvement is most ethically sought without the trainee present and in advance of the procedure.
- Assure the patient they will receive the highest level of care and ensure their privacy & confidentiality regardless of their decision to accept or refuse trainee involvement
- It is important to maintain respect for patient choices and autonomy. Patients can change their mind after initially saying yes, and we must also respect this choice.
- If your patient has consented to having a trainee during their procedure, consider introducing yourselves by saying, “We’ll be doing your procedure together today.” The trainer could say, “I’ll be assisting with your procedure today.”
- Emphasize the team approach to care (instead of who has more or less experience).
- Allow the trainees to describe the details of their procedural background as needed.
Evaluating New Trainers
Ideally new trainers have the opportunity to work alongside seasoned trainers to gradually obtain the many skills important to quality training. Timing of evaluation and approval to train independently may vary with experience providing and teaching in other environments, as well as needs of the program, but the following skills evaluation will assist in this assessment.