The Importance of Communication in Health Care Essay

Communication in the healthcare field may be a little different for some people. Healthcare requires the communication to have a purpose, and that purpose is revolved around a person’s needs. A patient with good staff communication during

Maureen Hawthorne explains the importance of communication in her article, The importance of communication in sustaining hope at the end of life. (Hawthorn, 2015) In The Essence of Care, therapeutic communication only occurs if a, “meaningful process within which people convey thoughts, anxieties and emotions” has taken place. (Hawthorn, 2015) In this instance, the presence of communication of a patient and their feelings is vital. The role of the health professional should not be forgotten since, “if health professionals struggle to communicate effectively, patients may be left anguished and in despair.” (Hawthorn, 2015) To understand the method in which proper communication is achieved, an analysis of several ideas is

Communication is usually taken for granted in our every day to day living as we use it without thought. Good communication skills are needed in the workplace and especially with nursing staff to and from patients when giving first hand care. Good or bad communication can make there experience within the health care setting a positive or negative one and can leave a lasting impression. A good health care provider can use there communication skills to put a patient at ease with a few comforting words or gestures, a lack of positive communication in the health care setting could leave the patient feeling neglected, ignored and not valued as a patient.

Unit 1- D1: Explain how communication skills can be used in health or care environment in effective communication

This is essential because the improvement on the quality of communication can allow the hospital to avert injury or malpractice. The improvement of communication is also essential in presenting the illness or the procedures that need to occur to the clients. This is crucial because the clients need the explanation and knowledge to know the status of the individual. Those who choose not to improve their communication skills were found to be at risk of causing injury to patients, doctors, and nurses. Once the Joint Commission saw that the improvement of the communication was crucial in a medical setting, they determined that it would need to mature to help with the approach of

Communication is incredibly important, it underpins any professional relationship with a patient. In any given specialty there is a need for good communication and there is an increasing emphasis placed on communication skills during undergraduate training programmes (both medical and nursing) however it is especially important within palliative medicine where patients are going through massive life changing events, often facing frightening times ahead in their not distant futures. Patients will have their own thoughts and agendas when entering a consultation and it is important to illicit what this is and to establish their own ideas, concerns and expectations as well as considering how much information they would like to receive from the professional.

“Extensive research has shown that no matter how knowledgeable a clinician might be, if he or she is not able to open good communication with the patient, he or she may be of no help” (Asnani, MR. 2009). Effective communication plays a big role in healthcare and contributes to the quality of patient care and teamwork.

Tony Robins hit the nail on the head when he said, “To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.” There are several different factors that influence the communication between medical professionals like doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists and the patients they treat. A few of these include the ability to explain or comprehend information, time spent face to face with patients, and the inability to practice active listening. The first interaction with a patient will set the tone for their care and the more comfortable a patient feels, the more they will divulge during their initial interview.

In recent times, in the field of health communication, a shift in beliefs has become apparent. Many feel that the physician-centered approach is no longer the best way to manage the interaction between patients and doctors. A new collaborative approach has been adopted by many. This collaborative approach is more of a partnership between the patient and doctor. More communicating by the patient, and more listening by the doctor. When the doctor and patient speak to one another, they speak to each other as peers sharing ideas,

American Cancer Society presents the value of interpersonal communication and relationships through various methods in different circumstances. For example, the American Cancer Society encourages patients to develop an interpersonal relationship with their Doctors and Physicians. The American Cancer society tries to encourage patients to form an interpersonal relationship with their doctors by being able to freely ask any questions, or bring up anything that concerns them. They also recommend sharing any information that is important for patients to communicate with their physicians and also help patients make the right decisions that are necessary, or more convenient for them. American cancer society not only promotes better care and relationships between patients and doctors, but they also provide numerous programs and activities that patients or individuals can participate in if interested.

In reality, many healthcare professionals were having difficulties in discussing and breaking the bad news with both patients and families (Vanhaecht et al., 2006). It is because, many were afraid that the outcome might causes the individuals to be in a psychological distress (Ellershaw and Wilkinson, 2011). For the same reason, some families were also afraid of being open and honest to their loved one (Kissane et al., 2011). Therefore, the importance of effective communication skills within healthcare professionals are key to have an effective teamwork within both patients and their families (Lloyd-Williams, 2008). Working together as a team, can enhance the quality of life for both individuals (Gott and Ingleton,

Effective communication among nurse and patient/family can improve care and relieve suffering. The diagnosis and treatment for cancer is a major challenge and it affects all aspects of life. By therapeutic communication, providing information, encouraging optimistic outlook, teaching how to reduce stress patient care will have better outcomes. (Yarbro, Wujchik, & Gobel,  2010).

Communication plays a vital role in the healthcare setting, as the relationship with the healthcare professional sets the tone of the care experience and has a powerful impact on patient satisfaction. It is “the shared process in which messages are sent and received between two or more people which are made up of a sender, receiver, and message in a particular context” (cite, date). This essay highlights the importance of, and some common barriers to, effective communication in the healthcare setting. It involves many interpersonal skills such as effective observation, questioning and listening, giving feedback, recognizing and removing barriers.

Summary: This article looks at cancer patients’ information needs associated with disease, diagnostic tests, treatments, physical care, and psychosocial resources during treatment are examined. Health care providers (HCP) need to recognize that as patients receive and understand information related to their care, they still need information in new areas specific to their care. In anticipation of the information changes HCP’s can provide information in regards to later concerns earlier on. Findings from the study give HCP’s the opportunity to be conscious of their patients’ needs and be able to recognize how much information their patient wants. There was a significant reduction in needs seen over time, however, total information needs continued to climb throughout the process. Patients that were female, young, African Americans, less educated and married were linked with higher needs for information.

Communication is an often overlooked aspect of the physician-patient relationship. According to one study in the Journal of the American Medical Association which compared primary care physicians with no malpractice claims to those with claims, those with no claims against them spent more time with patients on routine visits, used more humor with patients, and spent more time orienting patients in regard to their health.The study clearly demonstrates that communication is a critical aspect of caring for patients and a lack thereof can potentially be the root cause of malpractice claims. My communication skills, along with my maturity and empathy, which I have developed through my unique life experiences, will contribute substantially to my