Essential Competencies in Ethics Consultation (EC)²
A Virtual Immersion for Healthcare Ethics Responders within CommonSpirit Health, Guided by the National Theology and Ethics Team.
Essential Competencies in Ethics Consultation (EC)²
The Essential Competencies for Ethics Consultation (EC)² program promotes a standard level of competency, quality, and expertise in ethics consultation across CommonSpirit Health. It focuses on growing practical knowledge, skills, and interprofessional attributes.
Email Us
You can reach us at:
ethics@commonspirit.org
Learning Objectives
The Essential Competencies in Ethics Consultation program (EC)² is designed to explore the practice of ethics consultation and ethical analysis in clinical care and research areas. It is structured to foster the skills and core competencies essential for delivering impactful clinical ethics consultation and analysis.
This invitation-only program facilitates ethics quality improvement and offers a thorough understanding of the CommonSpirit Health Ethics approach towards enhancing patient experience.
Key elements of the program include:
- Providing a foundation and deepening clinical ethics consultation knowledge and application of knowledge to emerging clinical ethics dilemmas.
- Learning the core competencies of ethics consultation and applying them through case based learning.
- After 3-6 months, participants will apply their learning in ethics consultation and could begin to serve on call with coaching support.
- Upon completion, it is expected that participants will have gained confidence and competence to effectively be a primary responder to the most common ethics consultation cases.
Program Details
Each module in the program will follow the same format and will be structured in three segments.
Week 1
Each module kicks with a one hour live didactic session.
- Previous module homework due.
Weeks 2-3
- Read assigned documents
- Listen to the assigned EthicsLab Podcast(s)
Standing Office Hours in weeks 2 and 3
Week 4
Each module ends with a one hour live case discussion, review, and role play.
Program FAQ
I have already taken the Clinical Ethics Intensive (CEI). How does this course differ from the CEI?
The goal of the CEI is to advance those doing ethics consultation in learning specific consultation and mediation techniques. In the future, the CEI program will be completed during/after the (EC)2. (EC)2 promotes a standard level of competency, quality, and expertise in ethics consultation across CommonSpirit Health. It focuses on growing practical knowledge, skills, and interprofessional attributes. Key elements of the program include:
- Providing a foundation and deepening clinical ethics consultation knowledge and application of knowledge to emerging clinical ethics dilemmas.
- Learning the core competencies of ethics consultation and applying them through case based learning.
- After 3-6 months, a trainee will apply their learning in ethics consultation and could begin to serve on call with coaching support.
- Upon completion, it is expected that the participant will have gained confidence and competence to effectively be a primary responder to the most common ethics consultation cases.
What if I am doing ethics consultation but have not been invited to the EC²?
Please contact your Division Ethics Leader to understand the necessary competencies required to perform ethics consultation. There is a limited number of spaces available for the first cohort, but we will continue to invite more participants and build their knowledge and skill level for future cohorts.
Who is identifying/inviting participants to the EC²?
Primarily, the ethics leader for the Division will be the person identifying and inviting participants in this first cohort (45-50 slots overall).
List of Ethics leaders:
- Northern California - Anita Ho
- Southern California - Becket Gremmels, Linda McDonald
- Tri-Health - Kevin Murphy, Frank Nation
- Colorado/Utah/Kansas - Kevin Murphy, Patrick Gaughan
- Midwest - Leslie Kuhnel
- Southwest - Mary Homan
- Pacific Northwest - Laura Webster
- Southeast - Kristine Ehlert
- Texas - Dcn David Garvis
Will this course qualify me for becoming an ethics consultant or member of the ethics consultation team?
Upon completion, it is expected that the participant will gain proficiency in the essential competencies used in general clinical ethical consultation. With additional mentorship, participants are expected to be competent and confident to be a primary responder to ethics consultation (with authorization of Division Ethics Leader). However, this course does not count as a professional ethics consultation certificate.
What if I don’t have a role in Mission or Ethics but I am interested in this program?
If you are interested in being involved in clinical ethics consultation in CommonSpirit Health, this is the program for you. We welcome all clinical disciplines within CommonSpirit Health to participate. Contact your Ethics leader for your Division.
What if I cannot commit to the entire program?
Interested participants who are unable to commit to the required time should not begin the program at this time. Subsequent programs will be offered annually.
Do I need supervisor/manager approval to enroll in this program?
Yes, your Ethics leader for your division will work with you to help your supervisor understand the commitment and value of the program.
Will I be paid/compensated for the time I’m spending on this program?
Participants will not receive separate financial payment for taking the course, but are offered free participation and continuing education credits (participants will be eligible to receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change). We will be ensuring that your role of participating in ethics consultation is aligned with your current scope of work.
How much time will be required or expected each week for the program?
Participants are expected to commit approximately 8-10 hours per module for to complete the pre-work readings, attend the virtual didactic sessions, and participate in the virtual discussion board.
What if I am already HEC certified by the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH) or hold another bioethics certificate/degree?
The goal of this virtual training program is to promote a standard level of competency, quality, and expertise in ethics consultation across CommonSpirit Health. For those already conducting ethics consultations with graduate level training or gained their HEC-C, please contact your Ethics VP to see if EC² will be to your benefit.
What if I am unable to make it to one of the sessions during the program?
- Virtual didactic sessions will be recorded and made available to participants within 10 days.
- Office hours will be offered twice per module. Attendance is encouraged but is optional.
- Case discussions will be offered twice in the 4th week of each module. Participants need to attend one of these sessions live for each module.