About The Course
This two-day program focuses on advanced courtroom communications skills with special focus on child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and elder abuse cases. Participants will acquire basic skills to learn how to testify as an expert witness and overcome apprehension about the cross-examination process.
Sexual assault nurse examiners face many challenges as they work to conduct compassionate and thorough forensic medical evidentiary exams. One of the most difficult challenges they must confront comes not in the exam room, but in the courtroom.
This fact has prompted CCFMTC to develop an advanced courtroom commmunications course that combines classroom instruction and coaching with the opportunity to practice testifying in a courtroom setting. Participants will acquire expert courtroom skills in testifying and handling cross examination questions; will learn to effectively qualify themselves as an expert witness and handle the voir dire process; and will attain hands-on courtroom skills that will further their ability to perform an essential part of their jobs as a forensic examiners.
Course ObjectivesAfter attending this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Communication Skills in the Courtroom:
Learn how to listen to questions, give non-verbal acknowledgment, and to provide succinct, appropriate responses.
- Channeling Nervous Energy:
Learn how to harness and channel nervous energy into a positive presentation.
- Tell the Truth:
Learn the difference between scientific and legal truth. Students will learn the importance of testifying to their perception of truth.
- Circles of Communication:
Learn how to keep the three elements of thoughts, feelings, and behavior in alignment for more effective communication.
- Audience Retention Curve:
Learn methods to keep the jury attentive and focused on your testimony.
- Communication Styles:
Learn how to make your own communications style, as well as those of the jury, work to your benefit.
- Encoding/Decoding:
Learn how you can help jurors to understand and remember your technical testimony.
- Mock Trial:
Acquire expert courtroom skills in testifying and handling cross examination questions; learn to effectively qualify yourself as an expert witness; and attain actual hands-on courtroom skills that will further your ability to perform an essential part of your job as a forensic examiner.
* This CME credits for this course are pending approval by the UC Davis Office of Continuing Medical Eduation.
ACCREDITATION:
The University of California Davis, Health System is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (AACME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
PHYSICIAN CREDIT: The University of California, Davis Health System designates this educational activity for a maximum of (credit hours TBD) AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The following may apply CME Category 1 credit for license renewal:
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT: The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification
NURSE: For the purpose of recertification, the American Nurses Credentialing Center accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ issued by organizations accredited by the AACME. For the purpose of relicensure, the California Board of Registered Nursing accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
PSYCHOLOGIST: This educational activity is recognized by the California Board of Psychology as meeting the continuing education requirements toward license renewal for California psychologist (self reporting required).
MFT and LCSW CREDIT: UC Davis Health System Office of Continuing Medical Education, Provider No. PCE 2354. This course meets the qualifications for (credit hours TBD) of continuing education credit for marriage and family therapists and/or licensed clinical social workers as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Participants must attend the entire course, write license number on the roster, and complete the course evaluation to earn credit.
UC DAVIS HEALTH SYSTEM CME DISCLOSURE
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships: As a provider accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, the University of California, Davis Health System must ensure balance, independence and objectivity in all CME activities to promote improvements in health care and not proprietary interests of a commercial interest. The provider controls all decisions related to identifcation of CME needs, detrmination of educational objectives, selection and presentation of content, selection of all persons and organizations that will be in a position to control the content, selection of educational methods and evaluation of the activity. Course directors, planning committee members, presenters, authors, moderators, panel members and others in a position to control the content of this activity are required to disclose relevant financial relationships with commercial interests related to the subject matter of this educational activity. Learners are able to assess the potential for commercial bias in information when complete disclosure, resolution of conflicts of interest, and acknowledgement of commercial support are provided prior to the activity. Informed learners are the final safeguards in assuring that a CME activity is independent from commercial support. We believe this mechanism contributes to the transparency and accountability of CME.
UC DAVIS HEALTH SYSTEM CME MISSION
In concert with the University of California, Davis Health System mission of discovering and sharing knowledge to advance health, the continuing medical education mission focuses on the lifelong learning commitments of physicians who practice in the health system and in the greater Northern California region. UC Davis CME is at the nexus between scientific discovery and its translation to practice with a commitment to provide a variety of educational formats for evidence-based education that fulfills identified needs and produces changes in physician practice resulting in improved competence, performance and/or patient care. With an emphasis on multidisciplinary programs, content is based on competencies and bona fide needs assessments as well as clinical requirements. The CME Advisory Committee reviews the content and quality of CME offerings in accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education’s Essential Areas and Their Elements and the American Medical Association’s Physician Recognition Award accredited provider information.
