Personal and Professional Health Care Communication Paper
Personal and Professional Health Care Communication Paper
Effective communication is a basic skill that everyone should possess. The ways we communicate are crucial to many aspects of our lives. The role of communication is even greater for those who are in the health care field. Clear and concise instructions must be given in order to facilitate effective communication with others. This paper will define health care communication, the importance of effective personal health care communication with other health care professionals and patients, and how the lack of effective personal and professional health care communication contributes to poor health outcomes. It will also outline the theories and principles of therapeutic communication in health care settings for the health care professional.
Health care communication is defined as, “a multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach to reach different audiences and share health-related information with the goal of influencing, engaging and supporting individuals, communities, health professionals, special groups, policy makers and the public to champion, introduce, adopt, or sustain a behavior, practice or policy that will ultimately improve health outcomes.” Schiavo, R. 2007, p. 7. The health care profession is a team made up of the patient and a group of multiple interdisciplinary members, such as doctors, nurse and aides. It is important to remember when communicating within the team that each team member plays a specific and unique role. Communication must be patient- centered in order to be effective, whether speaking with the dietician about a diabetic patient’s meal plan, consulting with the social worker to ensure the right placement for the elderly Alzheimer patient, or delegating the task of taking post-operative vital signs to the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Information has to be relayed in a way that will be beneficial to the patient and entire health care team.
Poor health care communication
Effective communication is a basic skill that everyone should possess. The ways we communicate are crucial to many aspects of our lives. The role of communication is even greater for those who are in the health care field. Clear and concise instructions must be given in order to facilitate effective communication with others. This paper will define health care communication, the importance of effective personal health care communication with other health care professionals and patients, and how the lack of effective personal and professional health care communication contributes to poor health outcomes. It will also outline the theories and principles of therapeutic communication in health care settings for the health care professional.
Health care communication is defined as, “a multifaceted and multidisciplinary approach to reach different audiences and share health-related information with the goal of influencing, engaging and supporting individuals, communities, health professionals, special groups, policy makers and the public to champion, introduce, adopt, or sustain a behavior, practice or policy that will ultimately improve health outcomes.” Schiavo, R. 2007, p. 7. The health care profession is a team made up of the patient and a group of multiple interdisciplinary members, such as doctors, nurse and aides. It is important to remember when communicating within the team that each team member plays a specific and unique role. Communication must be patient- centered in order to be effective, whether speaking with the dietician about a diabetic patient’s meal plan, consulting with the social worker to ensure the right placement for the elderly Alzheimer patient, or delegating the task of taking post-operative vital signs to the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Information has to be relayed in a way that will be beneficial to the patient and entire health care team.
Poor health care communication
References: Schiavo, R. (2007). Health Communication - From Theory to Practice. New York, New York: Jossey- Bass. Northouse, P., & Northouse, L. (1997). Health Communication: Strategies for Health Professionals (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), (2005). The Joint Commission Guide to Improving Staff Communication. Oak Brook, IL. Institute of Medicine, (IOM), (2000). To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System. Washington, Dc: National Academy Press. Berwick, D. (1992, March, April). Seeking Systemnes. , 35(22).