There are various methods and styles of communication that are merely more than two or more people agreeing on a given subject but is about understanding differing views, information, and, or sharing ideas. However, this cannot be accomplished through and ineffective process. This paper will discuss the importance of effective communication, healthcare communication, therapeutic communication and its effects on outcome, and the effects of lack of communication on outcomes. Communication is the process by which information is shared, received, interpreted, and responded. It is verbal and nonverbal that includes gestures, facial expressions, body language, etc. Effective communication is essential in developing and maintaining professional contacts, interactions, and, or relationships. However, effective communication skills must be learned because they are not simply developed. They must be taught, practiced, and refreshed on a regular basis through formal and informal training in order to achieve and maintain effective skills. “We hear only half of what is said to us, understand half of that, believe only half of that, and remember half of that” (Cyr, n.d.). Therefore to effectively communicate, one must be mindful of what is said verbally and nonverbally because communication directly and indirectly affects the outcome of situations. Healthcare communication is possibly the most vital method or style of communication that requires training because it is an important aspect in establishing relationships, trust, and collaboration among clients, family members, significant others, other professionals, members of the community, etc. The process of healthcare communication involves professional to professional, professional to client or patient, professional to significant other, and client or patient to significant other interaction, which encompasses therapeutic communication. The professional to professional interaction is a relationship developed to focus on the development of a plan of care or treatment regimen for a client or patient. Professional to client or patient is a type of healthcare communication that is more personal than the professional to professional relationship and requires a closer bond. It is often based on the development of trust on the client’s or patient’s behalf that the professional has his or her best interest at heart. However, this connection is not developed overnight and must be respected as such. Professional to significant other is another relationship based on personal connection and can be just as important as the professional to client or patient relationship in the development and implementation of a care and or treatment plan for the client or patient. This relationship should be established or cultivated based on the directions of the client or patient. Client or patient to significant other relationship is strictly personal but should not be discounted by any means because it can play a vital role in the client or patients treatment (Northouse & Northouse, 1998). All these relationships play a role in the client’s or patient’s outcome and the perception of the entire healthcare process being delivered. If the interaction and relationship is positive in nature then the outcome and perception will be more favorable than if the interaction and relationship was strained, disconnected, negative or non-existent because the ability and or willingness of the client or patient or the significant other to trust, accept, interact or even participate will be affected. All of which stems from the healthcare communication relationships established. In essence, one could conclude that a positive healthcare communication process yields a positive outcome and or result and negative yields negative. That is not to say that healthcare outcomes are strictly based on relationships established via healthcare communication. It merely indicates the importance of relationships established via healthcare communication and how the interactions derived from them can affect the client’s or patient’s response to care that in turn affects the outcome. Therapeutic communication is important also because it aids in the development of the professional-client or patient relationships. It allows the professional to gain knowledge about the client more easily and more quickly, and aids the client to freely express him or herself to the professional. In addition, it allows for the treatment of the whole person. Therapeutic communication opens the door to meaningful discussion, questions, and answers, etc. It allows the client to share his or her thoughts, feelings, concerns, perceptions, views, expectations, fears, etc. This in turn gives the professional a clear view of what may be necessary to effectively treat the client. In most situations, such communication allows the root of a problem to be exposed and addressed as part of the treatment plan, and the ability to introduce other professionals to the team as necessary to achieve the greatest possible outcome for the client or patient. On the other hand, there is poor communication that can lead to misunderstanding, conflict, hostility, etc. and can adversely affect relationships and outcomes. Poor communication is as complex as the communication process itself. Poor communication it is not just what is said but also how something is said, when it is said, the venue in which it is said as well as saying nothing at all. In some situations, poor communication is the precursor to conflict. However, conflict should not be viewed negatively because it will almost definitely appear in every group or collaborative process. It should be addressed positively as a potential for growth and understanding, especially in the situation of the lack of communication or a member saying nothing. In such a situation, it is important to determine the reasoning behind the failure of communication and address it because poor communication can adversely affect outcomes if not effectively managed and resolved (Northouse & Northouse, 1998).
In conclusion, it is safe to say that in hospitals and other medical settings, healthcare communication is an invaluable aspect of the healthcare delivery system. However, the communication process must be an effective one. Effective communication is required to develop and maintain successful personal and professional relationships. It reduces misunderstanding, conflict, failure to communicate, hostility, and ill feeling among members that can be destructive to an entire plan and, or project resulting in less desirable and, or failed goals and, or outcomes. In addition, therapeutic communication is the base of the professional to client or patient relationship and for promoting the understanding of the client’s or patient’s desires, needs, fears, expectations, etc.

References
Cyr, L. F. (n.d.). Effective communication getting things done in groups. Retrieved on December 17, 2011 from http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/PDFpubs/6103.pdf

Northouse, L. L., & Northouse, P. G. (1998). Health communication (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Pearson.