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: Preparation The meeting 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 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

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

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

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

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

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.

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: 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.