According to research studies, poor communication has been a factor in over $1.7 billion in malpractice costs over the past five years. It was also a factor in over 1,744 patient deaths. The statistics are an indication that better communication will be of great benefit to both health care providers and patients. It will help save on costs, protect patients, and increase the efficiency of day-to-day operations. Patients will also benefit from increased access to their medical histories as it reduces the chances of medical errors.
Effective communication is an essential component of all healthcare processes. It does not matter if a clinic shares patient information with another facility or nurses. This article will explain the importance of effective communication for a health worker.
Healthcare workers are the primary and first caregivers from the initial triage and care point to the treatment and release phase. The caregivers quickly access, evaluate, and understand the condition of the patient.
In almost every case, a healthcare worker is the best and first communication line concerning the patient’s health. The ability of healthcare workers to communicate effectively is essential to offering excellent healthcare services.
Healthcare workers, and in particular nurses, are the ones who spend the most time with patients. The amount of personal communication they have with the patients is essential to understanding their emotional and physical well-being.
The healthcare workers’ communication with the patients will help determine the level of care they offer. The level of communication will be a significant factor in the patient’s long-term health condition. A high level of communication will help healthcare workers make decisions on the appropriate treatment plan. It will also be integral when implementing care protocols with other healthcare experts.
The health’s social determinants are the physical, social, and environmental conditions affecting an individual’s health status. Social determinants like food insecurity, poverty, and a lack of suitable housing have increased the prevalence of chronic conditions. Effective communication will enable healthcare workers to know their patients social determinants. With this, they can recommend the appropriate treatment methods to ensure a fast, affordable, and effective recovery.
Knowing the concerns and needs of patients will allow health workers to target their clinical strategies toward a patient’s clinical strategy. Doing this enables them to track a patient’s progress regularly while measuring deviations in real-time.
Other caregivers can easily understand the outcomes of their regular communication. Nurses will help reduce patients’ emotional and physical distress if they are good listeners.
There are times when a patient may have needs outside of their medical care. For example, a patient may need a special diet or practice particular religious beliefs. When a health worker communicates effectively with the patient, they will clearly understand the patient’s special needs. They will help pass the information to the right people to ensure no compromise in the quality of care.
Providers and patients will benefit from an increase in medical history access as it reduces the chances of medical mistakes. Lab technicians, healthcare workers, and doctors need to be in communication to ensure their health system works well.
Having a strong communication protocol and system will help prevent misdiagnosis, early patient discharge, and other errors. All these will help reduce patient complaints and readmissions.
According to the Healthcare worker’s code of ethics, patient advocacy includes the communication and therapeutic relationship between the patient and the healthcare worker. As an advocate, the health worker will act as an informant in the patient’s decision-making. They will always stand by the patient and help them decide.
Health worker who advocates bridges communication gaps between other professionals and the patient. When a health worker can identify patient worries in time, they will assist in alleviating fears and creating a great experience. They offer assistance and reassurance to their patients.
Health workers also help explain the diagnosis and recommend a treatment plan or medication. They follow up on things such as lab results and other important information.
Healthcare worker communication goes beyond talking to patients and their colleagues. They are always on the front line regarding communication in the healthcare industry. Offering them the right and practical communication skills will help improve healthcare organization and performance.
Effective communication by healthcare workers enables them to understand patient needs and have excellent interpersonal skills.
You can count on MLee Healthcare to help you find healthcare workers with effective communication and interpersonal skills. At MLee Healthcare, we combine our services with state-of-the-art recruitment and staffing techniques, boasting over two decades of experience. Feel free to contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation.
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