The Certified Medical Harm Communicator Training Program

The Certified Medical Harm Communicator (CMHC) training equips healthcare providers with the skills to communicate with empathy, rebuild trust, and support healing—teaching you the practical tools to provide support and guidance to patients and families when harm occurs. The training is fully online, self-paced, and immediately accessible, so you can start learning whenever you're ready.

We understand the challenges you face.

Healthcare professionals face intense pressure during difficult conversations. Many lack formal training and are unsure what to say, all while balancing transparency with liability concerns. These emotionally charged moments take a personal toll and are compounded by unclear protocols, inconsistent leadership support, and conflicting departmental advice. With limited guidance and time pressure to “handle it quickly,” professionals often feel unprepared and unsupported.

Comms Corps bridges that gap with practical, compassionate training to help teams communicate clearly, confidently, and ethically after harm events.

Become a Certified Medical Harm Communicator

Let’s change the way healthcare communicates— together.

CMHC Program Details:

📚 Taught by: Leilani Schweitzer

🕒 Duration: 4.5 hours total

🎥 Content: Course is entirely on-line and self paced.

📜 Certification: Earn your Certified Medical Harm Communicator (CMHC) certificate upon successful
completion of the final assessment, and earn 4.5 Continuing Medical Education Credits.

🏷️ Program Price: The CHRC certificate program is $275 per individual learner, with groups discounts available.
The course includes 4.5 Continuing Medical Education Credits.

What You’ll Learn:

Learn the skills to create transformational impact and achieve actionable outcomes by providing practical support and guidance to the people impacted by harm events, including:

  • How to Be Prepared for Harm Events – Shift from “if” harm happens to “when” harm happens, and gain confidence in handling difficult situations.

  • Honest, Clear Communication – Offer plain-language explanations in complex situations, ensuring patients and families understand their circumstance and what will happen next.

  • Empathetic Acknowledgment – Recognize emotions and provide practical next steps to reassure patients, families and clinicians in distress.

  • Confident Responses to Tough Questions – Answer difficult questions with clarity and confidence, offering reassurance to everyone affected by a harm event.

  • Proactive Follow-Up – Ensure ongoing updates and transparent communication, keeping patients, families and clinicians informed every step of the way.

  • Structure Disclosure Conversations – Lead sensitive conversations with proven frameworks that prioritize transparency, empathy, and clear action plans.

What You’ll Gain:

Equip yourself and your team with the tools and strategies to navigate harm event conversations with confidence, including:

  • Tangible Skills & Practical Frameworks – Lead meaningful discussions with patients and families using proven approaches.

  • Clear Communication Strategies – Guidelines for what to say, specific tools for emotional situations, and tested templates and samples of communications with patients and families

  • Trust-Building Techniques – Maintain and restore relationships with patients and families through responsible transparency and empathy.

  • Actionable Tools – Set clear expectations, create follow-up plans, and ensure accurate documentation to drive effective communication.

  • Legal & Ethical Guidance – Navigate legal and ethical considerations to stay compliant with regulatory requirements.

  • Organizational Impact – Strengthen your organization’s communication protocols, aligning with best practices and regulatory standards.

CHRC Training for Organizations & Teams:

Learn how you can support your team in meeting compliance goals while creating a culture of transparency, compassion, and high patient satisfaction. Because this content is stronger when it’s shared across teams, we offer group discounts starting with three learners from the same organization. Larger groups are eligible for further discounts — contact us and let’s talk about what works best for your organization.

Course Format & Program Features

Learn at your own pace on your own schedule, with engaging, high-quality on-demand video modules designed for easy accessibility.

Here’s what you can expect:

Self-Paced, Online Learning:
Video modules, interactive quizzes, and a final certification assessment, totaling approximately 4.5 hours.

Experience-Based Lessons:
Drawn from over a decade of communications with harmed patients and families, we provide practical skills for handling emotionally charged conversations with confidence and care.

CME Credits:
This course includes 4.5 continuing medical education (CME) credits. Available for: Physicians, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists, and Social Workers.

Downloadable Resources:
Checklists, templates, and communication guides for immediate use with patients and families.

Course Details

This self-paced online course offers 4.5 hours of engaging, high-quality video content for easy accessibility. Learn at your own pace, on your own schedule, and build confidence in delivering clear, compassionate communication.

Upon completion, 4.5 CME credits are available for Physicians, Nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists, and Social Workers.

Meet Your Instructor: Leilani Schweitzer

Included in the Training:

  • In this module, we’ll take a closer look at why patients and families choose to take legal action after experiencing medical harm, and explore ways to meet their needs before it gets to that point. Research shows that lawsuits often stem from a lack of information, emotional distress, financial struggles, and the need for accountability and prevention. By providing clear explanations, sincere apologies, and fair compensation, healthcare professionals can help build trust, support healing, and lower the chances of litigation. This module highlights how strong communication and patient engagement can lead to meaningful resolution instead of legal battles.

  • This module dives into the crucial conversations that happen after a medical harm event—disclosure discussions with patients and families. We’ll break down what must be shared, according to professional and regulatory guidelines, and why transparency matters. You and your team will learn practical strategies for approaching these conversations with honesty, empathy, and accountability, even when the details are unclear. We’ll also explore how to document disclosures properly, coordinate with your team, and ensure patients and families feel heard and supported. Most importantly, this module will help you shift from fear and hesitation to confident, compassionate communication when it matters most.

  • In this module, we’ll look at the financial impact of harm events in healthcare and how to talk about it with patients and families. Research shows that open, honest conversations about financial concerns after medical errors can lower the risk of lawsuits and build trust. Addressing financial impacts—including lost income, medical bills, and government reimbursement requirements—is a critical part of responding to harm events. By handling these discussions with transparency, empathy, and clarity, healthcare professionals can support patients through the financial consequences of harm events while keeping trust and accountability at the center.

  • This module focuses on a difficult conversation—explaining to patients and families when a review determines that the Standard of Care was met. These discussions can be challenging because they often mean there is no liability and, therefore, no financial compensation, which can be hard for patients or families to accept. This module covers best practices for communicating these findings with clarity and empathy, whether through a meeting or a letter. You and your team will learn how to prepare for these conversations, anticipate patient and family reactions, and ensure transparency throughout the review process. By handling these discussions with compassion and honesty, healthcare professionals can help families process difficult news while maintaining trust and accountability.

Testimonial

“Leilani takes the intention of disclosure and accountability and puts them into action. She understands the risks and benefits transparency presents to a health care system, as well as, its necessity to patients and their loved ones. I have seen Leilani present the merits of Communication and Resolution Programs to C-Suite executives and explain the gritty details of implementation to risk managers, patient experience professionals and attorneys. She draws on her years of experience to demonstrate actionable steps to meet the needs of patients, their families, clinicians and administrators after adverse medical events. I appreciate being able to call on Leilani for her guidance.”

— Edward Hall, Senior Executive Administrator, Integrated Risk at Keck Medicine of USC

FAQs

What is the format of the CMHC course & how long does it take to complete?

The CHRC course is fully online and self-paced. It consists of short, digestible video modules. Broken up into modules, the course takes about 4.5 hours to complete and includes a final assessment for certification.

Is the course eligible for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits?

Yes! The CHRC course is approved for 4.5 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. These credits are available to Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists, Dentists, and Social Workers. The course is designed to meet the educational needs of a wide range of healthcare professionals involved in patient care and communication after harm events.

How much does the CMHC training cost?

The full course is $275 per learner. This includes lifetime access to the core content, and certification upon passing the final test. Discounts are available when three or more learners from the same institution register together—making it easy to train teams and promote a shared approach to communication after harm events. Please connect with us to discuss discounts for groups.

Who should take the Comms Corps CMHC training?

The CHRC training is designed for healthcare professionals involved in patient care and safety, including clinicians, risk managers, patient safety leaders, social workers, and malpractice insurers. Whether you're on the front lines or behind the scenes, the course will strengthen your skills in communicating effectively and compassionately after a harm event.
It’s also an ideal way to educate entire organizations—including leadership teams and boards—about best practices for responding to medical harm with transparency, empathy, and accountability.

Confidence in Communication:
A Post-Harm Engagement Guide

DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE CHECKLIST

Download our free practical, step-by-step guide to help healthcare professionals navigate difficult conversations with empathy, clarity, and confidence. This free checklist, when used alongside Certified Harm Response Communicator program offers essential actions and reminders to support meaningful, compassionate engagement following an adverse event.

Become a Certified Medical Harm Communicator