Health care communication is the process of sharing health related information with health care professionals, and people seeking care within a medical facility. Using positive health care communication patients are can improve his or her quality of life, health professionals collaborate to resolve difficult solutions, and interact effectively with other health care staff with the patient’s best interest in mind. Effectively using verbal and nonverbal communication health care professionals improve their ability to share information, and interpret responses both personally and professionally.
This paper will explain the relevancy of positive health care communication, the effects of inadequate communication, and the theories and principles of therapeutic communication that health professionals use in the health care setting. Personal health care communication allows an individual to create trusting and supportive relationships within the health care setting. The health care professional begins to establish these relationships with patients and clients during the interview process. Using empathy, positive regard, and congruence the health professional can build a rapport with the patient or client.
The health care professional remains aware of aspects from his or her own beliefs, values, and perceptions that may influence these interactions with others. Maintaining a non-threating, nonbiased pattern of communication helps facilitate the patient or client’s ability to discuss openly his or her feelings, concerns, and ultimately cope with health his or her condition more productively (Northouse, 1998). Addressing these concerns the health professional can evaluate the patient’s perceptions, and assess the potential for barriers in care using the health belief model.
Understanding the perceptions of the patient allows the health care professional to plan positive outcomes relative to the patient’s beliefs. These same techniques are helpful when establishing relationships with other health care professionals. Embracing, respecting, and supporting the uniqueness of coworkers on a personal level will increase productivity, and cohesion on a professional level. Professional health care communication generates positive outcomes when participants establish relationships using the fundamental elements of respect, honesty, and mutual control to create open lines of communication.
Establishing a symmetrical level of control between health care professionals allows everyone to share equal control of the relationship. In this setting members are vital participants on the health care team allowing members to share thoughts, concerns, and suggestions freely in the effort to accomplish goals to improve patient care, and produce healthy outcomes. Effective communication is necessary when collaborating in groups with other health care professionals. To reach positive outcomes participants need to participate actively with the other members sharing insight, concerns, and solutions assertively.
On the floor health care professionals use effective communication to delegate assignments to other health care professionals, provide feedback, and establish relationships with management. Proficiency in these areas facilitates the proper functioning of the unit, competency of the employees, and maintains an open communication network with the leaders of the floor. Poor health outcomes are a result of ineffective personal and professional health care communication because conflict interrupts the professional’s ability to focus on the goals for positive outcomes.
Ineffective personal health care communication can cause health care professionals to engage in avoidance behaviors not allowing for full assessments of patient needs because of personal biases or distress (Gysels, 2005). Professional conflicts can occur in a number of ways; procedural, substantive, and relational controls. Procedural conflict occurs when health professionals cannot reach an agreement over what approach to take to meet the goals of the patient.
Substantive conflicts occur when organizational policies are up for renewal and the entire facility is looking for change in a matter yet no one can come up with a goal to fix the problem. Thus, reaching accomplishing a positive outcome in the patient’s care suffers waiting for resolution. Levels of control can also interfere with the outcomes of patients because the health care professional can move away from a symmetrical level of control to a complementary level of control causing a dominate-submissive relationship to develop between the health care professionals.
In this ituation communication barriers form because the submissive party cannot participate actively in discussions because the dominant individual blocks communication through belittling remarks, aggressive behavior, or ignoring the interaction. Eventually health professionals experience resentment, uneasiness, and unworthiness, which leads to the inability to form a productive environment to focus on reaching positive patient outcomes. To communicate effectively in the health care setting it is imperative that health care professionals use therapeutic communication techniques and principles to facilitate positive outcomes.
To begin this process establishing goals allows the health care professionals to have a clear understanding of what the objective is, and guides their motivation. Groups should join for the purpose of finding a solution for the goal. Individual goals are not an effective element in resolving group objectives because the focus is not on the group, but on personal gain. Creating realistic goals will allow the group to function more efficiently to accomplish the objective.
Goals that appear overwhelming or simple have detrimental effects on the motivation level of the group members, and lead to failure (Northouse, 1998). Presenting overt norms in the early stages of the group interaction provide guidelines for conduct throughout the process. Addressing restrictive norms that hinder the functioning of group efforts is essential in maintaining a positive group environment. To improve group cohesiveness members create a supportive and respectful environment in which to communicate.
All members of the group deserve time to share their thoughts, and insights to ultimately reaching positive outcomes. Restating the goals for the group allows the group to maintain focus and create productive respectful working relationships. Another critical variable in the health care setting is a good leader. The leader helps guide the group to ensure goals are met, present norms, and goals to the group, and facilitate effective communication. Leaders communicate with other health care professionals with respect, caring, and supportive interactions.
Reinforcing the objectives of the group and the essential role each member plays in reaching those goals. Leaders can motivate and excite group members about the objectives, ensure every member participates in finding the best solution for the problem, and providing feedback to members of the team. The members also have a responsibility to support their fellow health care professionals by actively listening when others are talking, and responding honestly and constructively with the goals of the group in mind.
Personal and professional health care communication directly affects the health care professional’s ability to execute patient outcomes. The effectiveness of these outcomes are directly related to the health care professionals ability to communicate using empathy, respect, and their own awareness of biases and beliefs. Lack of cohesive a unit leads to communication breakdowns and poor outcomes, but using therapeutic techniques and practices health care professionals can remove obstacles and focus on positive patient outcomes.