Importance of Communication
Managing an efficient and effective healthcare system for a community could be a complicated task especially if an organization and its members do not even know how to conduct a wise planning and at the same time do not know how to execute such plans. What the current healthcare system needs is an organized and systematized planning method and the only way to attain such state is to integrate the aspects of communication in the planning process and throughout the whole processes of implementing those plans (Young, 2005).
Unfortunately, the point of integrating communication into the planning process alone is where most healthcare facilities in different communities fail at. In worse cases, they do not even know that the only thing they need to deal with the current community health issues is to incorporate communication skills within the organization and use its benefits to create effective and issue-related plans that will really solve the problem. This paper will discuss the role and importance of effective communication within an organization in the implementation of projects in a health care organization as early as the first phase, which is the planning phase.
Overcoming Communication Barriers is Important
According to Young (2005), there are indeed communications barriers present in each organization that prevents these organizations from doing well in their projects. Some or even most of these organizations are business and healthcare organizations. Well, the sad thing about this is the fact that even with the reinforcement of different technologies today, majority of the healthcare facilities implemented by the governments could not still execute an effective communication framework that is guaranteed to work and help the whole group attain its goals and objectives more easily. This is the sad truth about most organizations today that we have to face.
Interaction within Every Department (Smaller Groups within the Organization) in a General but Detailed Way
According to Patkin (1991), there should really be a stable line of communication that connects each departments or smaller groups within an organization. This is actually a requirement before a hospital or any other healthcare facility is built and it definitely has to be that way because one of the main responsibilities of a health care organization is to be able to respond to emergencies such as outbreaks of diseases in an organized and systematized way. An organization who could not even initiate proper communication within its smaller groups could not really be an effective one because all of their processes will be individualized by each department and such would hinder them from aiding one another in case of an emergency or any unexpected event.
Likewise, in the planning process, every smaller group within the organization must be involved. Two or more brains will always be a lot better than just a single brain. The planning process is actually like a brain-storming process and every member of the healthcare organization must participate and share their ideas so that possible issues and loopholes about the current plan could be identified and so the organization could be prepared about it in case it surfaces out.
Reinforcing the Communication Process through the Use of Technology
According to Patkin, an important way to reinforce the current communication practices in a healthcare organization (the author used a hospital building as an example) is to integrate the current communication process with technology. Cellular phones, tablet computers and notebook computers are some of the best examples of tools that an organization could utilize to improve their communication process. In organizations in other countries, they even do virtual meetings whenever they plan for a new project.
This way, the planning process could be more convenient without compromising the quality of talk. The process of sharing ideas between members of the group is what’s more important and the latest technologies of today usually ensure that this aspect will not be compromised.
Approachable Organization Leaders
The possible state of a healthcare organization could sometimes be a result of the attitude of the leaders and other people involved in the group with significant influence with other members (Patkin, 1991). Leaders themselves have to exercise the proper way of communication, not just in the planning process, if they want to see their members doing the same thing. They have to set a good example first before the members of the organization could follow. It would really be easier that way.
Leaders also have to approachable in its simplest sense. Suppose there is a leader of an organization and its leaders do not even spend the time to talk with his subordinates and colleagues, of course that indicates that there is currently poor communication practices within the organization simply because the leaders are promoting it in the environment. This should not be the way leaders do it. They should be more open and approachable especially when it comes to issues and topics that concern the reputation and effectiveness of the organization.
References
Young, L. (2005). Communication in the planning Process. Healthcare and Medicine. Print.
Patkin, M. (1991). Hospital Architecture – An ErgonomicDebacle. Collogue International Paris Juillet. Print.
