Engaging patients in their own care is one of the most powerful strategies to improve health outcomes, strengthen relationships, and support long-term self-care management and behavior change. When patients feel heard, understood, and empowered, they are more likely to actively participate in their care and treatment plans, making informed decisions that improve their overall well-being.
One proven
way to enhance patient engagement is through Motivational Interviewing
(MI). MI is a patient-centered communication technique that has been
developed to help motivate ambivalent patients. Also, it guides care teams to
have collaborative, empathetic conversations, empowering patients to explore
their motivations and overcome barriers.
Why
Motivational Interviewing Matters
- Builds trust: Patients feel respected
and valued when care team members listen with empathy.
- Encourages self-motivation: Through MI, care teams
guide patients to find their own reasons for making health changes.
- Improves adherence: Patients are more likely
to follow treatment plans when they are part of the decision-making
process.
- Supports diverse care
settings: MI
is effective across primary care, behavioral health, Medication Assisted
Treatment (MAT), palliative care, and more.
At Practice
Transformation Institute (PTI), we believe engaging patients is the heart of
quality care. PTI supports patient engagement by equipping care teams with
tools, skills, and educational courses, such as Patient Engagement
Foundations, to foster productive, patient-centered conversations. Through
the Patient Engagement Foundations course, participants will learn the core
principles of motivational interviewing and how to apply these skills across
different care settings.
Course
Objectives:
- Describe the patient-centered
approach of MI
- Explain the conversation style
that represents the Spirit of MI
- Demonstrate basic MI skills
- Discuss how to use patient
language cues (change talk and resistance) in practice
- Explain how to engage patients
in the four MI processes necessary for health behavior change
- Identify barriers to patient
engagement and behavior change
- Identify how to make cultural
adaptations to MI
(It is
strongly recommended to complete Introduction to Team-Based Care before
taking this course.)
Course Details: (Live Virtual)
November 13, 2025 | 8:30AM – 4:30PM
Cost: $300 per participant
This
training provides practical tools to enhance patient engagement and strengthen
care team communication, skills that benefit both patients and providers alike.
Register Today: https://cvent.me/RD8o9E
Let’s
continue building stronger connections, improving outcomes, and transforming
care—one patient conversation at a time.
References
- Hibbard, J. H., & Greene,
J. (2013). What the evidence shows about patient activation:
Better health outcomes and care experiences; fewer data on costs. Health
Affairs, 32(2), 207–214.
- Lundahl, B., Moleni, T.,
Burke, B. L., Butters, R., Tollefson, D., Butler, C., & Rollnick, S.
(2013). Motivational interviewing in medical care settings: A
systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Patient
Education and Counseling, 93(2), 157–168.
- Miller, W. R., & Rollnick,
S. (2013). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change (3rd
ed.). Guilford Press.
