How to get informed consent for a procedure
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Consent is a conversation, not a signature. The patient must understand the choice well enough to make it freely.
Step by step
Prepare
Know the procedure well and book a qualified interpreter if needed. Find a quiet, private place. [1]
Check capacity
Make sure the patient can understand, weigh the options and state a choice. If not, find the legal decision-maker. [1]
Explain the procedure
Say what will be done, why, who will do it and what it will feel like, in plain words. [2]
Cover risks, benefits and alternatives
Include common and serious risks, the expected benefits, other options and what may happen with no procedure. [1]
Use teach-back
Ask the patient to explain the plan in their own words. Fix any gaps and check again. [2]
Confirm a free choice
Invite questions. Make clear they can say no or change their mind without losing care. [1]
Document and verify
Record the talk, any interpreter and the signature per policy. Before starting, confirm the right patient, procedure and site. [3]
Common errors
- Handing over a form without a real discussion.
- Leaving out alternatives, including doing nothing.
- Using a family member as the interpreter.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
- AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back)
- The Joint Commission, National Patient Safety Goals
Facts and steps follow AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs); AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.