Communication Opinion Paper

Communication Opinion Paper
Christy Honeycutt
HCS/320
Kelly Hernandez
December 10, 2012

INTRODUCTION
Effective communication in health care is extremely important for health care professional, the patients and the facilities that are providing the care. It can make a difference between life and death. If there is not enough communication within the healthcare industry, medical care will not be given effectively due to mistakes that well be made when things are not understood or clear. When it comes to patients lives at stake, effective communication is a major priority in the health care industry.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND ITS ELEMENTS
Effective communication plays a major role in the success of every professional and personal relationship (Diane Todd, eHow, 2012). The success of every professional and personal relationship relies on a person’s ability to communicate effectively. Becoming a skilled communicator requires learning every element necessary for effective public speaking, interpersonal, media development and business relations. The five basic elements of effective communication are; sender, receiver, message, the channel and feedback. The first component is the sender which uses effective verbal as well and nonverbal techniques (Diane Todd, eHow, 2012). The sender must speak or write clearly, organize his or hers points to make them easy to follow and understand. The sender must maintain eye contact, use proper grammar and give accurate information. If a sender uses all these verbal and nonverbal techniques, he or she will be able to communicate effectively to their receiver. The second component is the receiver, which is a person or a group of people that are listening carefully, sitting up straight and making eye contact to the sender. If the receiver does these three things he or she will understand the message that the sender is talking about. However, the receiver can also communicate verbally and nonverbally (Diane Todd, eHow 2012). The third component is the message, which is the important element of effective communication. The message travels from the sender to the receiver. The fourth component is channel. The channel sits between the sender and the receiver. Channel communication can be radio, television, and internet sit or magazine. Every channel of communication has its advantages and disadvantages. A disadvantage for a receiver is he or she cannot evaluate the tone of the message that the sender is sending. The advantage channel communication give the sender is a wide range of audience to further manipulate the message using editing and special effects (Diane Todd, eHow 2012). The last component is feedback, which is the response or reaction to the senders’ message from the receiver. Feedback helps the sender to determine how the receiver interpreted the message and how it can be improved (Diane Todd, eHow 2012).
BASIC ELEMENTS DIFFER FROM BASIC RULES OF HEALTH CARE COMMUNICATION
Basic elements of effective communication does not have specialized tasks, or have to follow rules or regulations, where as for basic rules of health care communication has specialized tasks and rules and regulations that have to be followed (McGraw Hill, 2004).
PROVIDER ENCORAGE A RELUCTANT CONSUMER TO COMMUNICATE CANDIDLY
There are many was a provider can encourage a reluctant consumer to communicate candidly. If a provider will be open and honest with the consumer, by telling the consumer all the information that they want to know, going over the plan of care with them, or even telling him or her the exact amount that it would cost on a treatment. If the provider can be open and honest with the consumer, then the consumer will be open and honest with the provider.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES INFLUENCE COMMUNICATION
Cultural differences influence communication, because of cultural beliefs. Some cultural people believe health is affected by relationships, spiritual forces, the environment, behavior, and energy fields with in the body. Other cultural believe that a disease is caused by witchcraft or divine intervention (McGraw Hill, 2004). With these types of differences with cultural beliefs it will affect communication, because it would be hard to communicate with a cultural that won’t listen to what is causing the illness.
CONCULUSION
Effective communication is extremely important. If there was no communicators that did not communicate effectively no one would understand anything that is going on in the world, and most importantly we would not understand illness or well-being. To have effective communication, the sender needs to make sure the message they are sending needs to be clear to the receiver, so that the receiver does not misunderstand the message. If the receiver misunderstands the message then mistakes are made. Health care industry cannot afford to make mistakes. So therefore, effective communication is extremely important to the health care industry.
REFERENCES
Diane Todd, eHow (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5232701_elements-effective-communication_.html#page=0
McGraw Hill (2004). Retrieved from Communicating About Health

References: Diane Todd, eHow (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5232701_elements-effective-communication_.html#page=0 McGraw Hill (2004). Retrieved from Communicating About Health