Communication
Communication is the transfer of information, ideas or feelings .
Communication performs a number of functions in a heath care system. It:
Communication failure can arise at any point in the sequence. These can be problems with transmission or reception.
Much progress has been made on understanding the contribution of communication issues to adverse patient safety events. But there are aspects of communication that are underexplored such as the role of hierarchy or culture in inhibiting communication, the uptake of improvement initiatives or how communication systems can shape events that impact on patients downstream .
Communication performs a number of functions in a heath care system. It:
- provides knowledge
- establishes relationships and behaviour patterns
- supports leadership and team co-ordination (Flin 2009).
Communication failure can arise at any point in the sequence. These can be problems with transmission or reception.
- Transmission: information not transmitted - message unclear either due to ambiguity of message, problem with medium etc.
- Reception: information not received - information sent but misinterpreted, ignored etc. The timing of message may cause reception failure.
Much progress has been made on understanding the contribution of communication issues to adverse patient safety events. But there are aspects of communication that are underexplored such as the role of hierarchy or culture in inhibiting communication, the uptake of improvement initiatives or how communication systems can shape events that impact on patients downstream .