Moving Beyond Routine: Screening That Builds Trust
Screening doesn’t have to feel transactional. You can transform your approach to patient screening by viewing early interactions as an opportunity to offer support, not just collect information.
Individuals and care teams that offer well-facilitated screening conversations can turn difficult conversations into pathways for ongoing support and positive health outcomes.
Overview: What is Collaborative Screening?
Collaborative Screening is a practical, person-centered framework that reimagines how screening conversations happen. It equips healthcare teams to lead with empathy, listen actively, and create safer, more respectful interactions that reflect the real needs of patients and families.
Too often, screening feels rushed or impersonal, missing the chance to connect meaningfully with patients. Collaborative Screening shifts the focus from checkboxes to conversation, encouraging trust, empathy, and person-centered care.
It builds on well-established approaches:
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Motivational Interviewing – helping providers apply MI techniques in structured, time-limited interactions
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Trauma-Informed Care – incorporating trauma-sensitive practices throughout the screening process
About the Course:
60 to 90 minutes self-paced online content. Learners have 30 days from enrollment to complete.
Includes a 30-minute practice and feedback sessions with an expert trainer
For those who facilitate screening conversations on sensitive topics, such as case workers, community health workers, nurse care managers and coordinators, and resource specialists.
Certificate of attendance
What to Expect
Collaborative Screening is a framework that enhances health screenings by fostering supportive, respectful conversations that focus on person-centered care. It combines techniques from Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-informed care to make screenings more meaningful.
This course includes:
- Self-paced content: Complete the majority of the coursework at your own pace online. This course includes a graded final assessment.
- Practice and Feedback: Engage in 1 x 30-minute sessions with expert trainers to refine your skills.
- Progress updates: Sponsors receive regular participant progress reports.
- Capacity: individual learner or up to 24 people per group, contact us for group discounts.
What You’ll Learn
Course Details
This is an interactive course, designed for participants who want to consider practical applications to their work. CCMI uses learner-centred, performance-based approaches to adult education. Courses include
- Interactive learning modules with audio, reading, and practice activities.
- An assignment with feedback from an instructor.
- One-on-one practice and feedback sessions over zoom with a CCMI practice facilitator.
In order to complete this course, learners will need:
- Access to a computer, laptop, or tablet with the capability to watch and listen to video and audio.
- Internet connection
- Up to date browser including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, or Microsoft Edge. The course will not run with Internet Explorer
Frequently Asked Questions
Navigating sensitive topics, especially during patient screenings requires a balance of empathy and clarity.
Collaborative screening emphasizes person-centered care, where health professionals can foster open dialogue without overwhelming the patient. Techniques such as motivational interviewing and trauma-informed care can help guide these conversations, ensuring that patients feel seen, heard, and respected.
Effective patient screening is more than just gathering data—it’s about building trust and creating a safe space for open dialogue. By implementing a collaborative model, care teams can improve how they address potentially distressing topics. This approach not only enhances patient engagement but also aligns with quality improvement (QI) efforts within health systems.
No, you don’t need prior knowledge of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to take the Collaborative Screening course. While the course incorporates some basic MI principles, it is designed to be taken as a standalone training. If you’d like to dive deeper into MI, we recommend checking out our MI Online Course to build a more comprehensive understanding.
Other Courses for You
Motivational Interviewing Foundations - Online Course
16-18 hours of self-paced online learning. Choose between a 60-day or 90-day schedule, with suggested plans to keep you on track.
Includes three 30-minute practice and feedback sessions with expert trainers
Appropriate for a wide range of professionals and peer helpers
Trauma-informed Care - Online Course
60-90 minutes self-paced online content
For health care and social service professionals
Motivational Interviewing Beyond Foundations
Combination of webinar, self-paced online content - 18 hours total.
Includes practice and feedback sessions with expert trainers
For a wide range of professionals and peer helpers
Prerequisite: MI Foundations or equivalent