Hcs 320 Communication Opinion Paper

Communication Opinion Paper Andrea K. Morris HCS/320 January 10, 2013 Prof. Polly Hanson

Effective communication in the healthcare industry is vital to both the patient and the physician, words become a lifeline. Communication among healthcare workers and patients impacts the safety, quality and level of care a patient receives. Lack of or poor communication will result in time and money lost misdiagnosis and chaos. Effective communication
The doctor and the patient are the senders and the receivers of the information. The patient must give the physician details of their illness. In turn the physician must communicate clearly with the patient. The basis to effective healthcare communication is to meet medical goals, enhance personal well-being, saving time and money and making the most of the health information. Healthcare communication is shaped by cultural orientation, situations, and personal goals. In basic communication the information simply needs to be sent, received, and given feedback. In the healthcare industry there are more factors that play major roles on the process of
Process simply means that people are involved in an ongoing effort to understand each other. In healthcare the patient must understand the diagnosis of the doctor. Meaning the physician must be clear and articulate the message they are conveying to the patient. Also the patient must be honest and clear on the level of care they expect from the healthcare provider. Providing accurate and honest information about symptoms and prior illnesses is crucial information to a physician. The personal goals is what each person wishes to accomplish from the healthcare information provided. The patient’s personal goal may be to find out what is causing their illness and to get treatment. The physician’s personal goal in that situation may be to get all the necessary information from the patient to give an accurate diagnosis to the patient. Interdependence is another aspect of healthcare communication that is not a factor in regular communication. Each person involved in the process has an influence on the communication process. The interaction that a patient has with the Emergency Room greeter will influence the behavior of the patient. If the registration clerk is rude and not very friendly, it is more than likely that the patient will not feel comfortable in sharing the intimate details of their illness. Therefore the