Health Care Treatment
The research was carried out on the need for communication in health care facilities, which involved both active physicians and normal citizens. The results indicated that the physicians complained about being left in the dark concerning the information of the processes at the hospital and were never involved in the decision-making process. On a similar note, the citizens, on the other hand, complained about having less information about the hospital's services and not knowing what some of the facilities are for. The results show the need to create and enhance communication efforts both internally and externally. This paper discusses three strategies to enhance communication both internally and externally, i.e. between the health workers themselves and between health workers and the citizens.
The need for better communication
Better communication between physicians and other employees plays a major role in the flow of information in the healthcare. Research and evidence show that lack of better clinical communication results in substantial increase in mortality and clinical morbidity (Coiera, 2000). For instance, if a medical institution experiences errors in communication within its wall, adverse clinical events and outcomes might result. This includes increased number of in-hospital deaths that could result from lack of inadequate skills among the operating staff. It is, therefore, critical that better communication strategies are implemented in these institutions.
According to Eastaugh, enhanced communication between staff and management could result in better quality service and lower costs incurred in these services (Eastaugh, 1998). If these institutions provide sufficient information to their employees and involve them in the decision-making process, they can save on their expenditure through the purchase of less expensive equipment and invest in better and more useful equipment. Similarly, the incoming staff should be taught by experienced ones how to go about different procedures and decision-making processes to acquire the necessary skills and experience necessary for better job performance.
On the other hand, there is also need to provide the general public with sufficient information that regards health care facilities. Even though the public might know that a certain hospital is reputable for some reason, they know very little information on the activities and plans of the hospital. This as well leaves them in the dark, and they lack full benefits that the hospital provides. This reason creates the need for the provision of better health care services information to the public as a measure to reduce illiteracy and lack of knowledge. Therefore, to do this, some strategies need to be implemented and budgeted for to enhance how information flows both internally and externally.
Strategies for better communication
The SBAR strategy is one strategy that can improve the way communication flows in a hospital setting. It is used by physicians to provide the staff with a better guide to getting information on a patient. As the acronym suggests, the SBAR entails the Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations. The Situation tries to find out what is going on with the patient. After that, the nurse checks the clinical background of the patient. The analysis is then done to find out what the problem might be, and finally, the nurse Recommends on the action that needs to be taken for the patient. This strategy is effective in connecting diverse styles of communication, which incorporates all members. There are two main reasons why this strategy is recommended. First, nurses are provided with guidelines for organizing the data they need for the SBAR process. Secondly, the expertise that care providers and nurses are recognized with encourages them to make recommendations to physicians.
The other strategies that health care institutions should use to enhance communication are through the Implementation Toolkit. This kit is useful for providing a guide for teaching and integrating communication and teamwork as a clinical practice (Joint Commission Resources, 2008). With the challenges presented by acute care in hospitals, this strategy is essential in reinforcing learning among healthcare members, learning the importance of teamwork, and integrating the organization with safe ways to communicate. In the education implementation strategies, the budget is to be allocated based on how members are categorized in the groups, as shown in the table.
SBAR and Toolkit Implementation STRATEGY: Time and budget
On the other hand, in improving health care institution communication with public, strategies that can be implemented include creating a national information system and offering public health education. This could involve the public being educated on various roles of the hospital in the community. This could be done through mass media, meetings and public presentations. In addition, healthcare facilities can use a website to share the hospital's information on how to deal with emergencies, available facilities in the institution, hospital capacities and real-time crisis.
Public Education Strategy: Time and Budget.
In conclusion, the modern advancements in technologies and other fields have made it possible to better communication in health care. It is evident that better communication in hospitals facilitates better work performance and improved patient health care. The numerous benefits that come with better healthcare communication also help to avoid problems such as increased mortality rate and also helps workers to enhance their skills through the different strategies highlighted.
References
Eastaugh, S. R. (1998). Health care finance: Cost, productivity & strategic design. Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.
Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (2008). Do-Not-Use Abbreviations: Toolkit for Implementing National Patient Safety Goal 2B. Joint Commission Resources.
