Interprofessional Communication In Healthcare

Communication is a vital skill within a healthcare setting as it provides the patient and their families with the primary care they require. It allows healthcare workers and consumers to feel safe within the environment, as they are all able to understand and trust the healthcare team. Employees are forced to understand each patient directly through the various forms of communication present within this industry. These varying forms of communication can initiate to other colleagues the issues or concerns for each individual and can force collaboration for all colleagues to reach a goal of holistic care. Communication can be conveyed in the form of written, verbal and non-verbal methods, each presenting different schemes of information which …show more content…
These diverse members provide a specific service to the individual and their families to work towards a common goal for the patient. Communication is an important aspect of this intense teamwork, as it can have an immense impact on the healthcare consumer and their families. Poor communication between an interprofessional healthcare team can cause misunderstandings and conflict within the group. Furthermore, limiting the person-centered care offered and impairing the patients’ needs, can result in serious physical and physiological injury which could have been avoided. This can be explored through the research of the (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organisation 2004), which “indicates communication (written and verbal) between colleagues and with health care consumers and/or family members is the primary issue in the majority of medication errors, adverse reaction, and near misses (Benjamin 2003). This research displays the effects of poor communication within an interprofessional healthcare team and evokes the importance of effective communication. The use of strong communication between an interprofessional healthcare team can diminish any confusion, mistakes and misunderstandings and can ensure success when achieving goals and problem solving within the workplace. Effective communication within an interprofessional healthcare team guarantees patient satisfaction and can improve the overall health of the patient as well as increasing morale and job satisfaction. Strong communication is essential during handovers and other interactions with a healthcare team as it ensures that all colleagues are informed on each patients needs and