chapter 5 communicating with each other

Jane Day, Interprofessional Working: An Essential Guide for Health & Social Care Professionals 2/e

Nursing and Health Care Practice Series© Cengage Learning EMEA 2013 1

Chapter 5

Communicating with each other



Learning outcomes

• Discuss the fundamental communication skills needed to facilitate effective relationships with patients, carers and health care professionals

• Identify the methods of communication that enhance effective interprofessional working

• Discuss the barriers to effective communication



Verbal communication

People’s attitudes and feelings are communicated:

55% by the body

38% by the voice

7% by spoken words



Non-Verbal Communication

Body language

Proximity

Body orientation

Posture

Touch

Gestures

Facial expression

Eye contact



Written communication

In pairs list the forms of written communication that you use in the workplace.

Time − 5 minutes



Patient records



Types of meetings

Types of meetings that promote team communication include:

• team/staff meetings

• multidisciplinary team meetings

• child protection case conferences.



Team meetings• Semi-formal meetings held in most practice environments on a regular

basis.• Usually chaired by the team leader/head of department/service manager.• Provide the opportunity for the team leader and team members to meet

and discuss matters that affect the team.• Provide a two-way communication channel between the team leader and

the team members and serve multiple purposes.• Enable team members to make suggestions and comments to the team

leader about the ways in which the team could enhance its practice.• Enables the team leader to share with the team information that will

affect the day-to-day activities of the team.• Bring the whole team together providing opportunities for the team

members to chat informally.



Skills required for a successful team meeting

There are three elements to a meeting:

1. Preparation

2. The meeting

3. After the meeting



Preparation

• When to hold the meeting

• Where to hold the meeting

• Setting the agenda



The meeting

• Agree ground rules

• Role of the chairperson during the meeting

• Role of team members

• Role of minute taker



After the meeting

• Role of the chairperson

• Role of team members

• Role of the minute taker



Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (MDT)

MDT membership is developed around the patient’s journey through the system, to ensure that all relevant professionals are

able to play an active role in the care of the patient.



Examples of MDT and their membershipStroke MDT Breast cancer MDT Children’s network MDTMedical staff Radiologist Educational psychologistNursing staff Oncologist Education welfare officersSpecialist stroke nurse Histopathologist Behavioural support teachersOccupational therapist Therapeutic

radiographerLanguage support teachers

Physiotherapist Clinical nurse specialist Autism teachersSpeech and language therapist

MDT coordinator Early years practitioners

Social worker Nursing staff Teenage pregnancy and parenthood officers

Dietician Diagnostic radiographer Parent support officersStroke coordinator Surgeon Family support workersClinical psychologist Plastic surgeon Other staff e.g. health

professionalsFamily and carer support coordinator

MDT coordinator MDT coordinator

MDT coordinator



What are the challenges for MDT meetings?

• Coordinating the MDT meeting

• Time commitment

• Resources



Child protection case conferences

• Critical part of the process of safeguardingchildren

• Takes place if there is a concern that a child isbelieved to have been harmed, or to be at significant risk of being harmed

• Conference is attended by those professionals involved with the current care of the child as well as the child’s parent/carers



Enabling Technologies

Electronic Health RecordsThere are three types:1. Summary care records2. Detailed care records3. Records held in prescriptions, referrals and

other local systems




Electronic Social Care Records (ESCR)There are three types of information held:1. Structured information2. Unstructured information3. Coded data for management and statistical

reports




Picture archiving and communication systems (PACS)• PACS is a system which captures, stores,

distributes and displays static or moving digital images such as radiographs, CT, ultrasound, MR, nuclear medicine.

• System takes away any need to print on film and to file or distribute images manually.



The communication process



Potential barriers to communication

• Distractions• Hierarchy• Inappropriate channel of communication• Too many communications• Complex messages• Professional language• Too much information• Ideological differences between different professionals• Lack of time



What have you learnt?Try answering the following questions:

1. What are the main methods of verbal communication?

2. What are the benefits of multidisciplinary team meetings?

3. How do electronic health records and electronic social care records enhance interprofessional communication?

4. What factors inhibit interprofessional communication?

If you can’t answer any of the above read Chapter 5 and/or review this PowerPoint presentation.

chapter 5 communicating with each other

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