Why Is Communication Important in Healthcare? 5 Takeaways

During an average four-day hospital stay, a patient can interact with up to 50 different staff members and care providers — ranging from technicians and therapists to nurses and physicians. With so many people involved in a patient’s plan of care, communication is key to preventing critical information from being overlooked.

To further answer the question, why is communication important in healthcare? we’ll discuss specific ways that communication can impact staff and patients. We’ll also provide examples of how effective information exchange can help improve care delivery.

What Are the Different Types of Communication in Healthcare?

Before we dive into why communication is important in healthcare, it’s helpful to understand the different types and styles of communication that providers commonly use. Healthcare staff are constantly adapting the way they talk with their team and their patients to maximize the utility of information. Common types and styles of communication include:

• Verbal: This can be face-to-face, over the phone, or on video call, but is generally speech that is spoken out loud.
• Non-Verbal: This refers to the expressions and body language that providers use when speaking to others. This type of communication can affect the way that patients receive or interpret information.
• Written/Electronic: This is information that’s either written on paper or in electronic communications such as emails and medical charts.
• Therapeutic: This style of communication is when providers engage in active listening and provide encouragement so that patients can freely express themselves.
• Assertive: This is a direct, concise, and respectful style of communication. Nurses and other providers often use assertive communication when relaying time-sensitive information.

Why Is Communication Important in Healthcare? 5 Reasons

Now that you know common types and styles of communication, you’re likely still wondering, why is communication important in the healthcare field? Below are five ways that communication can impact care delivery, illustrated with examples of how it can be optimized to improve outcomes.

1. Facilitates Clinical Decision-Making

Each staff member holds a distinct role in the patient care process, often tracking information that’s different from what their team members are keeping tabs on. In order for providers to make accurate care decisions, they must keep each other informed and ensure that no critical information is missed when formulating a patient’s treatment plan.

Example:

A nurse is conducting an intake assessment on a patient who has just been admitted to the hospital. The patient mentions that he’s allergic to penicillin — however, this allergy was not recorded in any of his previous medical records. The nurse immediately documents this in his electronic health record, also notifying the overseeing provider to ensure they avoid prescribing this antibiotic.

2. Keeps Patients Informed

There’s a lot going on in a given day at a hospital and patients can become easily overwhelmed when left in the dark. Relaying information to patients ensures that they’re empowered to stay involved in their own care. Many studies have emphasized the importance of communication with patients, showing how actively engaging with patients leads to increased feelings of trust and patient satisfaction.

Example:

An 80-year-old patient is prescribed a new medication during his stay at the hospital. Given the patient’s age, the nurse sets aside additional time to teach him about this medication and its potential side effects prior to the first administration. This helps the patient feel more at ease and even gives him the confidence to speak up about some concerns he has about the side effects.

3. Protects Patient Safety

So, why is effective, written communication important in the healthcare workplace? It can literally save someone’s life. Roughly 70% of medical errors are caused by miscommunication between providers, highlighting how crucial communication can be when it comes to protecting patients. Written communications can play a significant role in building a culture of safety, since they alleviate the burden of having to retain significant amounts of medical information.

Example:

A facility implements a policy requiring all nurses to utilize I-PASS reports during patient hand-offs. This fosters a more standardized and accessible hand-off system, ensuring that oncoming nurses have the essential information needed to safely and effectively take over patient care.

4. Enhances Teamwork and Staff Morale

Strong communication fosters better teamwork, which has shown to improve staff morale. Just as patients want to be informed about their own care, staff also value being informed of both positive and negative information impacting their workflow. When staff are able to more openly communicate with each other, this fosters the interdisciplinary trust and collaboration needed to deliver high quality care.

Example:

A nurse manager institutes an open door policy so that staff can more easily stop by her office and discuss concerns that arise during their shifts. This promotes transparency, which ultimately helps build a healthier and more communicative culture among the entire team.

5. Improves Resource Allocation

You may also be wondering, why is communication important in healthcare leadership? Simply put, if there are issues impacting care delivery on the floor, they can’t be properly addressed unless staff feel comfortable relaying this information to their leaders. Similarly, leaders must know how to garner and encourage feedback from their staff so they better understand how to more effectively allocate their resources.

Example:

To encourage shared governance, a nursing director holds monthly council meetings where nurses lead discussions on how to improve care quality. In one meeting, the director learns that the majority of her staff feel overworked and understaffed, influencing her to dedicate more resources to hiring and retention programs.

Take Steps to Improve Communication Among Your Staff

Beyond asking, Why is communication important in healthcare? it’s crucial to continuously work on improving information exchange among your own team. Looking for more insights? Discover actionable ways that you can enhance communication and patient care through IntelyCare’s free, expert-written newsletter.