1. Chapter 5 Communicating with each other

2. 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

3. Verbal communication
People’s attitudes and feelings are communicated: 55% by the body 38% by the voice 7% by spoken words

4. Non-Verbal Communication
Body language Proximity Body orientation Posture Touch Gestures Facial expression Eye contact

5. Written communication
In pairs list the forms of written communication that you use in the workplace. Time − 5 minutes

6. Patient records

7. Types of meetings
Types of meetings that promote team communication include:
team/staff meetings
multidisciplinary team meetings
child protection case conferences.

8. 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.

9. Skills required for a successful team meeting
There are three elements to a meeting:
Preparation
The meeting
After the meeting

10. Preparation When to hold the meeting Where to hold the meeting
Setting the agenda

11. The meeting Agree ground rules
Role of the chairperson during the meeting
Role of team members
Role of minute taker

12. After the meeting Role of the chairperson Role of team members
Role of the minute taker

13. 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.

14. Examples of MDT and their membership
Stroke MDT
Breast cancer MDT
Children’s network MDT
Medical staff
Radiologist
Educational psychologist
Nursing staff
Oncologist
Education welfare officers
Specialist stroke nurse
Histopathologist
Behavioural support teachers
Occupational therapist
Therapeutic radiographer
Language support teachers
Physiotherapist
Clinical nurse specialist
Autism teachers
Speech and language therapist
MDT coordinator
Early years practitioners
Social worker
Teenage pregnancy and parenthood officers
Dietician
Diagnostic radiographer
Parent support officers
Stroke coordinator
Surgeon
Family support workers
Clinical psychologist
Plastic surgeon
Other staff e.g. health professionals
Family and carer support coordinator

15. What are the challenges for MDT meetings?
Coordinating the MDT meeting
Time commitment
Resources

16. Child protection case conferences
Critical part of the process of safeguarding
children
Takes place if there is a concern that a child is
believed 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

17. Enabling Technologies
Electronic Health Records
There are three types:
Summary care records
Detailed care records
Records held in prescriptions, referrals and other local systems

18. Enabling Technologies
Electronic Social Care Records (ESCR)
There are three types of information held:
Structured information
Unstructured information
Coded data for management and statistical reports

19. Enabling Technologies
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.

20. The communication process

21. 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

22. What have you learnt? Try answering the following questions:
What are the main methods of verbal communication?
What are the benefits of multidisciplinary team meetings?
How do electronic health records and electronic social care records enhance interprofessional communication?
What factors inhibit interprofessional communication?
If you can’t answer any of the above read Chapter 5 and/or review this PowerPoint presentation.