Collaborative Patient-Caregiver Communication

Zwarenstein et al (2007) designed and evaluated an intervention intended to improve interprofessional collaborative communication and patient-centred care. The intervention was aimed at the development of a hospital-based staff communication protocol designed to promote collaborative communication between healthcare professionals and ultimately, enhance patient-centred care within the team (Zwarentstein et al., 2007). The authors found that a substantial amount of interprofessional communication lacks three key core elements such as self-introduction, description of professional role, and solicitation of other professional perspectives (Zwarenstein et al, 2007). With these findings, the new protocol, based on the three identified core elements was designed to improve the overall culture of communication among healthcare providers.

A weakness in communication between interdisciplinary team members can impact patient safety and health . A recent study revealed that out of all the claims analyzed , 57 percent of malpractice cases reflected miscommunication between two or more healthcare providers (Riah, 2015). In fact, the same communication failures directly linked to 1,744 deaths over the past five years (Budryk, 2016). During my clinical placement this semester I have witnessed the overwhelming number of health care team members that are involved in each patient’s care. I also take part in morning nursing rounds where all nurses are updated on every patient’s status. Transmission of permanent patient information is also relayed to all members of the health team via the patient chart .Here , interdisciplinary notes all come together to form updated health information on patients. However, although I have read interdisciplinary notes from all team members , I rarely have had the opportunity to personally communicate with members other than doctors and nurses. Personal communication allows for a team member to pass on relevant information in a timely manner without the possibility or misinterpretations. When communication is strictly done non-verbally, it is impossible to ask any questions.. This is why communication between professionals in health care is essential for patient safety and improved quality of care (Koivunen, Niemi., & Hupli,2015). There are 3 main factors that cause miscommunication

Communication in health care is crucial for success in any health care based institution. Collaborate communication within health care professionals is more effective than an individual. Collaboration in health care is defined as health care professionals assuming complementary roles and cooperatively working together, sharing responsibility for problem-solving and making decisions to formulate and carry out plans for patient care (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2008). Collaboration amongst physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals increases team members’ attentiveness of each other’s type of

The book presents two ways in which a health-care provider can communicate with his/her patient. These two ways are vastly differing and represent opposite ends of the spectrum in which a health-care provider can communicate. The ways in which these communication styles are perceived by the patient is communicated within the book. The way in which the patient views his

Communication has been defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs” (O’Daniel & Rosenstein, 2008). All of these communication techniques should be used inter-professionally though healthcare. The collaboration between nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals increases the awareness of other professions skills and knowledge. This leads to improved communication and decision making when providing patient care. However, this doesn't always happen due to lack of communication between healthcare professionals. Poor communication between health care providers can also lead to delays in diagnosing a patient, patients receiving the wrong treatment, triggering life threatening adverse events as well as an increase in the time of a patient's hospital stay ("Clinical Communication Framework", 2016). Hierarchy is also one of the reasons why there are miscommunications and communication problems in general. Due to doctors and surgeons being at the top of the hierarchy ladder nurses and paramedics fall further down the ‘ladder’. While some professions feel as if communication is open and that any other profession has the right to speak openly to them, other professions feel the opposite. Professions on the ‘lower end’ tend to feel uncomfortable speaking about problems or concerns that need to be addressed as they may feel intimidated by their colleagues (O’Daniel & Rosenstein, 2008). Over time professions have been thinking less about the hierarchy and are overcoming what once was, however, some individuals still believe in the hierarchy ladder complicating communication methods. On the other hand a patient will always feel safer and in better hands with a team of professionals who are open to communication and work cohesively as one

healthcare delivery processes contain numerous interfaces and patient handoffs among the care providers. Despite being in the same professions, these professionals have varying levels of education and expertise in handling the patient. A patient visiting a health center interacts with many of these professionals. This patient’s satisfaction is based on the care received by many professionals and by the way they handle and interact with the patient. For the clinical outcome to be efficient and effective, information must be accurately communicated. Failure to communicate effectively put the patient’s life and health at risk. Miscommunication can cause medical errors, which result in severe injury or even termination of life (O’Daniel and Rosenstein, 2008).

Healthcare providers are humans, and therefore make errors. These errors can only be improved upon if they are brought to light, by the people they communicate with most, their patients. It is important to note that every individual has a different definition of satisfactory communication.

“Improving communication among the care team has been shown to greatly improve a team’s understanding of the goals of care and to decrease length of stay” (Gordon, Deland & Kelly, 2015,

In the health care system, communication is the outline of patient- centeredness involving patient’s expectations and preferences towards medical treatment, opportunities to participate in health care system to improve understanding. A Physician listen to his patient and respond in the same manner what his patient states. The patient centeredness approach follows egalitarian approach where physician works on patients agenda. Essential elements of physician patient relationship comprises of dissemination of information, decision-making approach and verbal and non-verbal communication between the two. Patients involvement in decision making increases and quality of health services also improves with the increasing patient satisfaction.

Some may not be aware, but patient and physician communication is an integral part of clinical practice, according to jaoa.org. Proper communication between physician and patients enhances skills that others lack on. The way that the information is given and understood plays the biggest roles of communication. For patients, the way the information is given to them helps them become comfortable with the doctor whereas if the information was given to the patient quickly, the patient would become tense and maybe a little stressed out.

In “Doctor-patient communicate: A review of the literature,” L. Ong, J. De Haes, A. Hoos and F. Lammes (1995) create an overall evaluation of all of the current studies that have been done within patient-provider communication. They reiterate how important communication in healthcare is and state that it is the “main ingredient” within health care. Different types of communication are addressed in patient provider interactions, these include: constructing an interactive relationship, building a treatment plan, and translating information (Ong, De Haesm Hoos & Lammes, 1995). Previous studies have

The medical consultation is considered to be one of the most important phases in the care of a patient (Bennet, 1979; Beck et al., 2001). Especially in long term illnesses, health care professionals have a close relationship with their patients; the main reason is because of the nature of this relationship itself, as they are both involved in illness in their own different ways (Bennet, 1979; Ong et al., 1995; Pendleton & Hasler, 1983; Molleman et al., 1984; Morrison, 1994; Usherwood, 1999). Through this relationship, health professionals and patients are constantly exchanging information (Ong et al., 1995; Morrison, 1994; Usherwood, 1999); patients are the ones who experience illness and discomfort, and are seeking for both care (feeling

In comparison to other career paths, healthcare professionals are unique in that they directly impact the health and well-being of those who need care. With lives on the line, quality care providers must not only possess refined technical skills but excel in communication as well. Depending on the complexity of the case, a single patient can have a medical team that consists of an overwhelming number of members. When professionals from various specialties collaborate for care, prompt communication to keep other team members updated on new findings and patient achievements is essential. Whether it be a day nurse reporting new patient goals to the night nurse or

As registered nurses, effective communication is at the forefront of our skill set. As patient advocates, we must be able to communicate to our patients in a way that will empower them to take charge of their health and wellbeing. We are constantly in communication with our patients and their families, with health care providers, and other members of the interdisciplinary team. Effective communication helps to promote patient increased patient care and safety. This paper will help to break down the seven different forms of patient clinician communication, and the impact that they have on the patient.

Health outcomes are influenced by a variety of factors, one of which is clinician communication abilities.1 In fact, I took a class in medical school dedicated to teaching the art of the interview and how to properly build and maintain the sacred patient-clinician relationship. Health communication is growing field of medical research that both examines the current state of clinician communication and uses experiment to improve or further understand the process of disseminating health information. 2 This year, I spent 10 months researching health communication and medical decision-making using transcripts of real patient encounters from men with early stage prostate cancer and from women deciding between surgical treatment