PCMI Course Listing

PCMI has developed numerous training programs that have become "standards".  That is, they've become so popular that we find ourselves delivering them frequently.

In addition to these "standard" programs, we've been quite successful in developing customized or modified training programs that meet the specific needs of our customers.  In either case, standard or customized, we work hard to make sure you get the results you need.  When you have a training need, call us 610-275-8980

Gerontology / Care Management Related Courses

Aging & Sexuality 

Explores a wide range of issues including: psychological and social factors, demographic issues, physical changes influencing sexual functioning, and the impact of loss of intimacy.  - 1/2 day or full day.

Alcohol & Older Adults

Includes an overview of alcohol use among the elderly,  -  descriptions/characteristics of older substance abuser -  screening, assessment and treatment approaches – case studies – a review of potential resources.  - 1/2 day or full day.

Alternative Medicine & Older Adults

Looks what alternative medicine (AM) is and who uses it – types of alternative/complementary medicines – specific medical conditions commonly associated with AM – case studies – legal issues and concerns - resources.  - 1/2 day only.

Alzheimer's & Other Dementias 

Covers definitions, differences between kinds of dementia, cognitive symptoms, diagnosis, impact on consumer and consumer family, caregiver support, method to assist in determining appropriate services. – 1/2 day or full day versions.

Assessment

Two versions of this program are available.  One is a general program on comprehensive assessment practices, and the other is geared toward those working in Area Agency on Aging systems.  Includes principles of assessment, definitions and regulations, interviewing skills, introduction to documentation, case studies and guided practice.  – Full day.

Assessing Client Decision Making

Focuses on addressing the complex issues associated with client decision making capacity.  A case study approach is used to explore self-determination and ethical issues related to competency.  Explores situations where client decision making ability is not always clear cut. – 1/2 day only.

Basic Social Gerontology 

Offered in a variety of formats and can include: definitions of important terms; successful aging and quality of life; demographic review; structure of publicly funded aging network; normal aging vs. disease; attitudes toward aging; the psychological and social aspects of aging; policy issues related to aging, etc. – 1/2 day to 2 full days.

Care Management Orientation

Typically a two day program that provides an overview of the history and principles underlying   care management for the elderly.  Reviews component parts of care management (Intake, Assessment, Care Planning, Monitoring, Reassessment & Termination.) Provide a more detailed review of assessment and care planning – introduction to confidentiality – how to navigate and understand the service delivery system. 1 or 2 full days.

Care Planning

Defines care planning as part of care management – describes steps in care planning process – discuses principles and good practice – case study with guided practice in writing a care plan – implementing care plans – client involvement and direction in process – using informal supports - monitoring, negotiating, and conflict resolution as related to care planning. – 1/2 day or full day.

Chronic Pain 

Develops an understanding of common conditions related to chronic pain, differentiates between chronic and acute, explores cultural attitudes toward pain, introduces Bill of Rights for those suffering with pain, discusses approaches to dealing with pain, explores impact on family / caregiver dynamics. – 1/2 day only.

Clinical Skills – Interviewing

Program explores verbal & non-verbal skills, a model to view clients in a holistic manner, the nature of the relationship, stages or phases of an interview,  case studies and guided practice, asking hard questions, preparing for the interview. – 1 or 2 full days.

Clinical Skills 2 – Working with Difficult Clients

Explores dynamics of personality that can cause conflicts, assesses current strengths and challenges in terms of style preferences, develops clinical flexibility in working with a broad range of people, case studies and guided practice. – 1 or 2 full days.

Confidentiality in Care Management

Reviews fundamental practices related to the professional use of consumer information.  Includes information on the history of legislation, current legislation and regulations, as well as case studies. – 1/2 day only.

Depression & Older Adults

Looks a depression in older adults in terms of prevalence, impact on quality of life, various levels of depression, causes, symptoms, treatments, and resources.  Focus is on helping practitioner work to assist consumers in getting appropriate help as well as building understanding and support for family. – 1/2 day or full day.

Documentation & Case Recording

This program explains the purpose and importance of case recording; differentiates between different kinds of case recording, including formats; provides an overview of PA Department of Aging standards for case entries; introduces techniques for preparing for a case entry; and, provides guided practice in creating concise, accurate case entries.  1/2 day or full day.

Elder Abuse

Explores factors in which there is a high risk for elder abuse, identifies clues that may indicate elder abuse, provides guidance in asking about elder abuse, discusses the role of Adult Protective Services in Pennsylvania, provide the opportunity to apply learning through case studies.  (Please note:  this is not protective service training.) 1/2 day or full day.

Environmental Considerations

This program will promote a higher level of awareness and understanding of the importance of assessing the consumer's environment in light of any sensory,  cognitive, or physical impairment.  Participants will learn to use the concept "consumer/environment fit" as they gain skills in learning to evaluate a living environment.  The program will also present and discuss available resources that promote independence and safety in the living environment.  1/2 or full day.

Ethics in Care Management  

The program defines ethics in such a way that it has immediate application and relevance to participants.  It identifies issues in community based long term care around which ethics are a critical part of good practice.  It explores standards and provides and opportunity to discuss ethical issues through the use of case studies. 1/2 day or full day.

Falls & the Elderly

Introduces participants to typical causes and contributing factors to falls; explores issues related to fall prevention; discusses interactions with consumers who have fallen; and, uses case studies to reinforce learning. 1/2 day or full day.

Family Dynamics & Care Management

Defines family and family systems; helps develop an understanding of family dynamics and how they can be managed toward helping consumers; identifies kinds of dysfunction that can hinder the ability to maintain consumers in the community; introduces specific tools for understanding complex relationships; discusses appropriate roles in working with family dynamics; and, uses case studies to reinforce learning.  Full day.

Grief & Loss

Presenting grief and loss as a natural part of the human experience, this program explores: kinds of loss and grief experiences; physical and emotional reactions to loss; factors that compound grief; appropriate roles and responses to those experiencing grief;  and our own reactions to dealing with these issues.  Case studies are used to reinforce learning.  1/2 day or full day.

Health & Aging  

This program will enable participants to distinguish between normal aging and disease.  Various body systems will be presented along with common diseases of these systems, treatments and medications, and how consumers are affected on the physical, psychological, social and economic level.   The program is based on and requires the use of PCMI's comprehensive manual Health & Aging.   1 or 2 days.

Human Diversity & Cultural Competence in Care Management

Designed to assist care managers in developing more highly effective working relationships with others whose cultural orientation is different than their own, the program: promotes a positive valuing of human diversity; increases awareness of the positive dynamics of difference; increases ability in using cultural knowledge during assessment and care planning; and, enhances an ability to work effectively with a wide range of people. – 1/2 day or full day.

Incontinence

The program explores major causes and contributing factors of incontinence while discussing the impact on consumers.  Provides guidance in assessment and talking about incontinence with consumers and their families.  Explores treatment approaches, and uses case studies to reinforce learning.  – 1/2 day only.

Informal Supports 

The program examines the care manager's role in identifying and using informal supports to help maintain consumers in the community.  Discusses how to integrate the use of informal supports in the public sector with service from publicly funded services.  Extensive use of case studies and guided practice. – 1/2 day to full day.

Keeping the Caregiver Healthy

This program helps participants understand the experience of caregivers from the perspective of dealing with others "who want to help".  It provides information and concepts about practical interventions while reviewing the reasons or driving forces for wanting to support caregivers.  It also explores symptoms as predictors of strain, and explores resources that can help support keeping caregivers healthy. – 1/2 day to full day.

Mental Health & Aging  

Designed to help identify and understand various mental health problems including dementia, depression, and personality disorders, this program helps participants manage difficult consumer relationships.  The program also discusses appropriate resources and strategies for helping clients while maintaining one's own ability to work with challenging situations. – 1/2 day to full day.

Money Management & the Elderly

Explores typical issues in money management care managers may see, while presenting factors that can contribute to money management problems.  Discusses interventions that can help assist consumers.  Presents general legal and financial tools used to transfer fiscal authority and mechanisms for providing surrogate decision-making. – 1/2 day.

Navigating the Service Delivery System  

Participants will develop an understanding of common service delivery systems and an understanding of steps and processes for preparing for contact and successful work with a variety of service delivery systems on the consumer's behalf.  Will explore how to be an effective advocate for consumers while building and maintaining productive long term relationships with other agencies. – 1/2 day to full day.

Keeping Safe from Assault

This program deals with the potential of personal assault and how those working in the field can lean to plan, think, and behave in ways that improve their ability to remain safe in a variety of situations.  The program does not rely on self-defense techniques. – Full day.

Pharmacology & Aging 

This program explore common medication use by the elderly, typical adverse drug reactions the care manager is likely to encounter, typical behaviors regarding the use of pharmaceuticals by consumers, economic issues involved with medication regime compliance, and which medications are more likely to cause potentially life threatening adverse reactions.  -  1/2 day to full day.

Quality Assurance in Care Management

Exploring quality assurance from the micro and macro levels, the program develops a working understanding of basic terms, definitions and concepts.  It introduces a quality assurance matrix to help evaluate one's current efforts and what can be done to improve or promote quality assurance in care management.  Current practice in the field is presented and guided practice in action planning for participants' own work situation are included. – Full day.

Quality of Life and Older Adults 

The program helps develop a pragmatic understanding of quality of life issues for older adults; provides a better understanding of the range and scope of variables that can impact on quality of life; and, promotes a deeper commitment to maintaining or improving quality of life for consumers.  A model is presented for integrating information to better understand the experience and situation of others.  – Full day.

Strength Based Approach to Care Management

This program introduces a paradigm in which consumers are assessed and understood from their strengths instead of their deficits.  The ability to identify strengths is used to help in developing effective care plans and promote consumer choice.  The program challenges the traditional needs/deficit view of working with clients and relies heavily on guided practice with case examples. – 1 to 3 full days.

Supervision in Care Management 

Designed specifically for supervisors in publicly funded care management this program: defines the functions and stages of a supervisory relationship; describes the role of "middle" management in most organizations; presents several models of supervision and their use and applications; provides a theoretical framework for addressing supervisory problems; and, discusses the unique challenges of supervision in care management. – 1 day or 2 day.

Supervision in Care Management – Advanced

This program uses a seminar format to explore issues, challenges, or concerns of those participating.  Use of case examples and participant experiences provide the context and content of this experiential learning experience. – Full day.

Supporting & Working with Client Values 

The program is designed to increase participant understanding of how one can support consumer values in pragmatic ways.  Terms and concepts are introduced associated with the study of values and are integrated by: exploring one's own values and applying this learning to what is known about consumers.  Guided practice and experiential learning are a large part of this program. – Full day.

Understanding Your Own Aging

As professionals working in the field of aging, we are in the unique position of serving others who likely have reached stages of life that await us.  This one day program is designed to help enrich our own professional practice by expanding our understanding of our own aging experiences and exploring possible "aging paths" in our future.  Self-exploration is a key component of the learning experience required in this work.  The training is also rooted in a strengths based perspective.  That is, the more we know about our own strengths, the higher the likelihood that we'll be able to use them for our own benefit and in understanding the consumers we serve. – Full day.

Understanding & Working with Different Personalities from a Strengths Based Perspective

All individuals have strengths, many of which can be described as personality traits.  In strengths based work, it is critical that we identify strengths in our consumers and build on them.  As professionals supporting a strengths based approach, it is equally important that we understand our own strengths and build on them.  The goals of this program include developing: 1.) a richer understanding of one's own personality to more deliberately manage and effectively use in one's work with consumers, consumer families, and supports; 2.) a deeper understanding of personality theories for use with a wide range of individuals and in a manner consistent with a strengths based approach. – Full day.

Values & Attitudes Toward Aging

This program explores the cultural norms, expectations and beliefs related to aging.  It looks at the impact of current values and attitudes on the beliefs and behaviors of consumers and family members as well as those working with consumers.  It challenges participants to explore their own ageism or non-productive beliefs and attitudes.  – 1/2 day to full day.

Management & Supervisory Related Courses

Assessing Need and Designing Effective Training

This program will prepare participants to conduct realistic training needs assessments, design programs to produce results, and develop effective tools to measure impact.  Topics include: three phases of training needs analysis, elements of instructional design, program delivery options, adult learning, evaluation models, and choosing the best approaches to improve return on investment. – 1 to 2 days.

Change Management 

Designed to help managerial and supervisory personnel understand the natural dynamics of change occurring in today's fast paced service delivery environment, this program prepares participants to be effective leaders through the turmoil that often accompanies change.  A pragmatic approach that uses participant experiences and current theory to develop successful strategies. – 1 to 2 days.

Coaching  

This program helps supervisors develop an understanding of the benefits of coaching as a supervisory technique, while building knowledge and skills needed to be successful while coaching.  Current theory and concepts are presented while using case studies.  Participants will have the opportunity for guided practice in learning new coaching supervisory behaviors.  – 1 to 2 days.

Conflict Management – Supervisory Level 

Conflict is an inevitable part of working with others.  This program will help participants understand the dynamics and types of conflict that arise in the workplace.  It will provide realistic approaches for dealing with conflict in constructive ways while keeping organizational members focused on the mission of the agency.  Case examples and guided practice will be included.– 1 to 2 days.

Developing a Collaborative Approach in Today's Service Delivery Environment

This program focuses on developing a collaborative paradigm and practices to promote the mission of the organization.  Using current theory and concepts consistent with the growing demand for human service agencies to collaborate with one another, the program provides specific tools to promote realistic work in strengthening the organization's ability to collaborate in ways that are beneficial.  – 1 day. 

Decision Making for Success

The focus of this program is on helping participants learn to use specific theory, concepts, and tools that will facilitate making purposeful, well reasoned decisions with a high probability of success.  Participants will use specific tools and procedures in analyzing situations in their own work environment as a primary means of learning.  – 1 day.

Developing a Customer Service Program 

Designed to make customer service more than a slogan, this program will look at how to develop standards, translate standards into reality, prepare the environment for effective customer service, training personnel, and implement and evaluate a customer service program.  – 1 to 2 days.

Developing & Using Professional Support Groups

Based on a highly effective model, this program will teach participants how to create or facilitate the development of professional support groups with a focus on providing opportunities for professional growth, problem solving, and mutual support.  Participants will learn the theory behind the model, learn the process and procedures, and have the opportunity to participate in guided practice.  – 1 day.

Employee Safety 

Designed specifically for management personnel this program will guide the participant through the process of understanding issues related to violence and the workplace.  Participants will be lead through the process of evaluating their own work environment including policy, physical environment, personnel, and type of service delivery. – 1 to 2 days.

Human Diversity & Cultural Competence

Designed to assist supervisors and managers understand how to develop policy and practices which in developing more highly effective working relationships with others whose cultural orientation is different than their own, the program: promotes a positive valuing of human diversity; increases awareness of the positive dynamics of difference; increases  ability in using cultural knowledge in working with consumers and co-workers and, enhances an ability to work effectively with a wide range of people. – 1/2day or full day.

Leadership Strategies 

The program reviews popular leadership theory in the context of organizational needs.  The focus is on helping participants develop leadership behaviors aimed as specific results.  Case examples and guided practice are a major part of the learning experience.  – 1 to 2 days.

Leadership & Work Culture

This program looks at leadership from the perspective of managing organizational culture.  Participants will be introduced to a model of work culture that provides easily understood definitions of cultural norms and the kinds of leadership needed to create and maintain these norms.  Participants will have the opportunity to apply their learning to their own unique situations.  – 1 to 2 days.

Organizational Culture, Choosing, Creating, Maintaining

Participants are introduced to a highly effective model used to measure and understand organizational culture.  Next, they have the opportunity to explore cultural norms best suited to helping meet their organization's mission, followed by a review of levers used to shift cultural norms.  Finally participants are introduced to practices needed to maintain desirable culture within the workplace. – 2 to 4 full days.

Organizational Stress, Managing  

Using a specific model that measures organizational stress along the dimensions of work roles, occupational strains and coping resources, this program deepens the understanding of the dynamics of stress in the workplace.  The focus is on helping supervisors and managers develop appropriate roles, processes, programs, and procedures to reduce the detrimental effects of negative stress.  – 1 to 2 days.

Outcome Measures

Based on the model advocated by the United Way of America, this program will prepare participants to develop realistic measurements program outcomes in ways that will meet the requirements of funding sources.  In additional to concepts and theory, participants will have considerable opportunities to work on their own unique needs and challenges related to this topic.  – 1 to 2 days.

Professional Renewal

Designed specifically for those in leadership positions, this program recognizes the need for professionals to re-energize or re-fuel themselves on a regular basis.  The program views renewal as the opposite of burnout, and provides an opportunity for participants to assess their current situation, envision a higher level of professional experience, plan to reach their vision, and learn to act in ways that achieve their goals… all in a relaxed atmosphere.  – 2 days.

Sexual Harassment  

Designed for managers and supervisors, this training will help participants understand and develop programs that: recognize and appreciate individual differences in the workplace; teach supervisors to recognize behaviors that could constitute sexual harassment or discrimination; develop appropriate practices to prevent harassment; contribute to or create policies on sexual harassment or discrimination; know what to do with complaints or reports alleging harassment or discrimination. – 1 to 2 days.

Strategic Planning

A basic primer on strategic planning, this program will introduce those unfamiliar with strategic planning to the basic concepts, skills, and practices.  Current theory and applications of strategic planning will be presented.  Participants will have the opportunity to begin developing an outline for their own planning process.  – 1 to 2 days.

Teams 

This program looks at how teams can be used successfully within organizations to shift culture, accomplish specific goals or tasks, contribute to quality improvement programs, boost employee morale, and reach the organization's mission.  Procedures for setting up and supporting teams within an organization are presented.  – 1 to 2 days.

Training as System Intervention 

This program explores the use of training as one method to facilitate systems change.  While recognizing the importance of training as an effective intervention in improving or correcting employee performance, this program focuses on how the proper use of training can also help entire organizations or service delivery systems move in new directions.  – 1 day.

General Courses

Customer Service 

This program can be designed to match your organization's current customer service standards, or provide an introduction to customer service.  It can be as detailed or simple as needed. – 1/2 day to 3 days.

Being an Effective Team Member

This program teaches participants how to be productive team members.  It focuses on the characteristics or behaviors that are evident in highly successful teams while teach participants how to know if their team is as effective as it could be.  A series of experiential team building activities and theory form the foundation of the program. – 1 to 2 days.

Dealing with Customer Complaints 

A specific element of any good customer service program, participants will learn to view complaints valuable information.  In addition, they will be introduced to a  model that provides a series of sequential steps to help resolve and learn from customer complaints.  Case examples and guided practice will be used.  – Full day.

Getting & Staying Organized

This program combines time and information management aimed at producing higher levels of organization and effectiveness.  Concepts, ideas, tools and suggestions are provided to help people develop practices that work for them and will stand the test of time.  – 1 to 2 days.

Human Diversity & Cultural Competence 

Designed for anyone working in human services, this program will assist in developing more highly effective working relationships with others whose cultural orientation is different than one's own.  The program: promotes a positive valuing of human diversity; increases awareness of the positive dynamics of difference; increases ability in using cultural knowledge during assessment and care planning; and, enhances an ability to work effectively with a wide range of people. – 1/2 day or full day.

Personal Safety for Human Service Personnel

This program deals with the potential of personal assault and how workers can lean to plan, think, and behave in ways that improve their ability to remain safe in a variety of situations.  The program does not rely on self-defense techniques.   – 1/2 day to full day.

Sexual Harassment  

Based on your organization's current standards (or offered as a foundation program), this training will help participants recognize and appreciate individual differences in the workplace;   recognize behaviors that could constitute sexual harassment or discrimination; know what behaviors to avoid and which to promote that help prevent harassment;   know how to file a complaint or report alleging harassment or discrimination. – 1/2 day to full day.

Using Laptops in the Field

This program teaches individuals how to stay engaged with consumers while entering data on a laptop computer.  1/2 day to full day.