Introduction
Effective communication is an essential part of any job that deals with people; it is vital in healthcare. Although it is a simple act of exchanging information, its poor execution or lack thereof can disrupt the whole work process. Whereas mistakes in other industries typically lead to profit losses, in hospitals, errors may be fatal. Whether written or verbal, in-team or doctor-patient, miscommunication can result in serious medical errors, patient harm, and hospital lawsuits.
In-team Communication
In order to effectively provide care, most medical professionals have to participate in tasks executed by more than one staff member. During this process, communication is a key component of completing the job successfully. Despite that, there are many factors that can obstruct functional communication and result in medical errors. For example, physical settings, which as background noise, environment, other staff members, or patients, can accidentally serve as a barrier, blocking the transfer of verbal information (Shitu et al., 2018). The social setting is also important since all parties participating in the exchange must feel comfortable and respected (Shitu et al., 2018). Moreover, work-related stress and relationships also affect teamwork efficiency and communication levels (Branch et al., 2021). In such cases, the role of leadership and well-regulated work-life balance is essential in ensuring the best possible outcomes in medical error prevention and communication.
Apart from day-to-day exchanges between medical workers, many patients also experience a transition of care. Switching or being transferred between healthcare settings may result in other errors and health risks (Branch et al., 2021). According to Branch et al. (2021), half of the discharged patients deal with medication errors related to miscommunication, whether written or verbal. Usually, they suffer from unclear instructions or lack thereof, inadequate timing, conflicting expectations between the care providers, and a lack of standardized procedures (Branch et al., 2021). For example, Branch et al. (2021) discuss a case of a medication overdose, amounting to five times the daily norm, which was the result of miscommunication during the transfer of care. Having more than one specialist on a case increases care complexities, but it is easily avoidable with the improvement of communication and effective engagement of the patient during the transition.
Patient Communication
Since the work of a medical professional involves not only teamwork but also direct interaction with a patient, there are also many issues that can result from miscommunication between the two. Apart from physical and social settings that also affect doctor-patient dialogue, there may be a language barrier (Shitu et al., 2018). Working with a diverse population or failing to deliver medical terms and conditions to an inexpert listener may result in such issues as wrong-site surgery and medication errors (Shitu et al., 2018). In written communication, handwriting can also confuse a patient and lead to repeated hospital visits and failure to follow instructions (Shitu et al., 2018). Lastly, some medical workers are distrustful or inattentive to patients’ complaints based on personal prejudices and misconceptions, causing delays in treatment and critical health implications.
Conclusion
Lack of communication or its poor execution can lead to deadly consequences in a medical setting. Verbal and written, in-team and doctor-patient communication can be easily obstructed and result in major medical errors. Work relationships and work-life balance have a significant impact on teamwork, which further influences the effectiveness of inter-staff communication and care provision. Inadequate patient transfer with miscommunication between medical facilities can cause medication errors and patient harm. Physical and social settings, language barriers, and confusing written instructions can end with a patient returning with the issue, medication error, and wrong-site surgery.
References
Branch, J., Hiner, D., & Jackson., V. (2021). The impact of communication on medication errors. Web.
Shitu, Z., Hassan, I., Aung, M. M. T., Tuan Kamaruzaman, T. H., & Musa, R.M. (2018). Avoiding medication errors through effective communication in healthcare environment. Movement, Health & Exercise, 7(1), 113-126.