Question

Much research and evidence support the fact that when healthcare providers work effectively in teams, patient safety and care is highly impacted and improved. In fact, for at least 10 years, the National Patient Safety Goals had identified communication (among health professionals) as the 2nd highest goal in improving patient safety. This is second only to identifying the patient's name and date of birth correctly. Therefore, we need to learn to communicate well! For this discussion, students will consider how teams function best. Identify an aspect where effective team communication may break down. Briefly discuss what the outcomes might be. Give an example of how this could be avoided.  

Answer 1

Before we get into communication barriers between the healthcare providers, we must first understand how to communicate effectively in our lives. The 7 C's of communication, as thought in most management colleges are as follows,

• Concreteness
• Correctness
• Clarity
• Creativity
• Consideration
• Completeness
• Courtesy

Unfortunately, we do not learn this in Medical school, where it is especially important as healthcare providers work with people from various backgrounds.

Physicians, Nurses, Paramedics etc need to learn how to effectively communicate amongst themselves as well as the patients and their family members in order to function optimally.

Any team would would best if there's effective communication, work in a team for a longer period of time, respect for each others work as well as taking criticism in a constructive way without letting ego get in.

An effective team communication may breakdown when one person does not speak at the intellectual level as the one he is speaking with. Here, the other person will automatically zone out of the conversation/task at hand. The message one needs to project has to be clear. The amount of clarity one can provide is completely dependent on the speakers ability to identify the level of intellect of the person he/she is speaking with. Thats what makes a person an effective communicator.

Another problem most healthcare providers face while communicating is the inability to take criticism from what he/she may consider to be inferior to him/her in the work place hierarchy. This leads to conflict between the teams, making the patient a causality in the cross fire.

All these barriers can be avoided by teaching the healthcare providers a few management lessons early on in their college curriculum as Medicine is all about working in teams just as the corporate world.

CONCLUSION:

Effective communication, respect for each others work, clarity in the message given and taking criticisms constructively s the key to making a team work efficiently in the healthcare work force. Every college should include team building workshops and course materials in their curriculum as in todays world, that is the need of the hour.