Component 16 /Unit 3Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 1 Professionalism/Customer Service in the Health Environment Unit 3 Overview of

Component 16 /Unit 3 Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010

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Professionalism/Customer Service in the Health

EnvironmentUnit 3

Overview of Communication Relevant to Health IT


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Unit 3: Objectives• Explain the purpose and goal of

professional communication• Describe what is meant by effective

communication • Discuss what is meant by ineffective

communication• Identify common roles in healthcare• Describe Disability Etiquette’s contribution

to professional communication


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Professional Communication

• The purpose of effective communication between individuals and teams is to insure that professionals succeed in their roles and with their assigned tasks.

• The goal of professional communication training is to provide professionals with an understanding of the concepts and the skills required to communicate in a professional manner.


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Effective Communication

• Accomplishes a number of goals– The intended message is delivered and

understood– Results in instant verbal and non-verbal

feedback– Is always professional in tone and language

• Increases your credibility as a professional


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Ineffective Communication

• Results in– One-way communication without

understanding of the message by the others– Can be emotionally based, insensitive and

intimidating• Damaging to your credibility as a

professional and to the organizations reputation


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Communication and Healthcare Roles

• There are many different professional roles in the healthcare environment

• Understanding these roles supports you in effective communication and in being part of the healthcare team


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Healthcare Roles

• Administration and support staff are responsible for the day-to-day running of the organization as well as for supporting the healthcare professionals in their efforts to care for patients.

• While they are not healthcare providers directly, they do ensure that the work of the healthcare providers takes place in a safe, well-supplied environment that is also in regulatory compliance.


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Healthcare Roles

• “Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations. …

• In the first half of 2006, over 65,000 persons were newly licensed as registered nurses, joining 3.1 million other RNs in the nation’s largest health care profession”

Nursing's Social Policy Statement, Second Edition, 2003, p. 6 & Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, 2004, p. 7)


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Healthcare Roles

• Physicians- “Doctors as clinical scientists apply the principles and procedures of medicine to prevent, diagnose, care for and treat patients with illness, disease and injury and to maintain physical and mental health. They supervise the implementation of care and treatment plans by others in the health care team and conduct medical education and research.”

http://www.nhsemployers.org/PlanningYourWorkforce/MedicalWorkforce/Future-of-the-medical-workforce/Pages/Role-of-doctor-consensus.aspx


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Healthcare Roles

• The expansion of knowledge in medicine and dentistry created a greatly expanded need for many types of allied health personnel, in areas such as critical care, diagnostic and therapeutic sciences, health services administration, nutrition sciences, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

• Allied health professionals are valuable members of the healthcare team and provide support to the healthcare providers and to the patient in the form of taking x-rays, providing physical therapy for rehabilitation, and in the management and use of information technology.


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Healthcare Roles

• Patients are the most vulnerable group in any healthcare organization and depend on your work to support their care

• Others, such as regulatory agencies are an important part of the healthcare world

• The public, outside your organization see you as its representative


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Communications: Face-to-Face

• When interacting with others in the healthcare environment– Physical distance and stance, with particular

attention to diversity issues– Body language– Tone of voice and language – Humor– Appropriate and Inappropriate sharing


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Communications: Electronic

• When interacting with others using email or text messaging– Language should be clear and concise– Focus on the task or problem– Avoid jokes or sharing personal information– Always use a greeting using the persons title,

Dr. Mr. Ms. – With email always end with your business

card


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Communications: Phone

As with face-to-face and email communications you should– Keep your language clear, concise and

focused on the task– Maintain a professional tone of voice– Avoid making jokes, using humor to make a

point, or sharing personal information– When leaving a message, provide your full

contact information


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Disability Etiquette

The purpose of disability etiquette is to provide guidelines for effective professional communication with everyone in your workplace, regardless of differences.


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When interacting with people with physical differences– After an initial greeting, sit down so that a

person using a wheelchair won’t have to crane their neck to make eye contact with you

– Shake whatever a person offers – a hand, prosthesis or elbow

– Don’t assume they need your help, offer assistance first


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When interacting with hearing and speech impaired people – When speaking to someone with a hearing

impairment, keep your face out of the shadows and hands away from your mouth

– If you are speaking with someone using an interpreter, look at and talk to the person, not the interpreter

– When speaking to someone with speech difficulty, talk normally, don’t pretend to understand when you don’t. If necessary, ask the person to repeat


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Summary

• Professional communication skills enable you to be an effective member of the healthcare team


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Summary


• Ineffective communication prevents you from being seen as a competent professional


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Summary



• Understanding other professional roles is important for effective communication


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Summary



• Understanding other professional roles is important for effective communication

• Disability etiquette is an important contributor to effective communication

Documents

Component 16 /Unit 3Health IT Workforce Curriculum Version 1/Fall 2010 1 Professionalism/Customer Service in the Health Environment Unit 3 Overview of