Course Code: REL-IDD-0-RHN
Hours: 0.75
Type: Online Course
Content Expiration Date: 9/30/2026
Learning Objectives:
Recognize signs and symptoms of healthcare needs for people with IDD.
Identify appropriate responses to healthcare needs.
Outline:
Section 1: Introduction
About This Course
Learning Objectives
Section 2: Recognizing Healthcare Needs
Something Isn’t Right
Recognizing Healthcare Needs
Understanding Baseline
Gathering Information
Responding to Healthcare Needs
Using Judgment
What Happens to Donna?
Signs of Healthcare Needs
Behavior Changes
Signs of Pain
Physical Signs
Vital Signs
Review
Summary
Section 3: Common Healthcare Needs
Health Needs in IDD
Aspiration
Dehydration
Constipation
Nail and Foot Problems
Dental Problems
Skin Problems
Seizures
Concussion
Medical Emergencies
Review
Summary
Section 4: Conclusion
Summary
Course Contributors
References
Congratulations!
Instructor: Katy Kunst, MBA, QIDP
Katy Kunst received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her Master of Business Administration from Elon University. She has 15 years of experience serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their supporters, including roles as direct support professional, program director, and training facilitator. She has created and facilitated training on topics including non-violent crisis interventions, person-centered planning, cultural competence, quality service delivery, regulatory compliance, and a variety of topics related to IDD services.
Subject Matter Expert: Rebecca Smallwood, MBA, RN
Rebecca Smallwood, MBA, RN, has experience across multiple healthcare settings including: rural and urban acute care hospitals, public health, ambulatory surgery, higher education, and commercial healthcare learning organizations. Her roles have included: medical/surgical, ED, and OR Staff and Charge Nurse; Director of School Health Services/School Nurse; Public Health Epidemiology and Bioterrorism Preparedness Specialist; Infection Control Practitioner; Quality Management Specialist; Organizational Development Specialist and Educator. Prior to joining Relias as an acute care SME Writer in 2017 and Curriculum Designer in 2021, she provided consultation to Swank Healthcare and was the Director of Education Services for Health.edu, a division of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Rebecca earned a diploma in nursing from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Lubbock, Texas in 1989 and an MBA from Wayland Baptist University in 2010 with an emphasis in healthcare administration.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this course is: Direct Support Professionals (DSP); in the following settings: Intellectual Developmental Disabilities: Agency.
Relias Learning will be transparent in disclosing if any commercial support, sponsorship or co-providership is present prior to the learner completing the course.
Relias Learning has a grievance policy in place to facilitate reports of dissatisfaction. Relias Learning will make every effort to resolve each grievance in a mutually satisfactory manner. In order to report a complaint or grievance please contact Relias Learning at support@reliaslearning.com.
Course Delivery Method and Format
Asynchronous Distance Learning with interactivity which includes quizzes with questions/answers, and posttests.