Personal and Professional Healthcare Communication
HCS/350
January 9, 2012

Personal and Professional Healthcare Communication Personal and professional health care communication is critical in a professional working environment rapidly changing. Communication collaboratively is more effective than individually. Relevancy of effective personal and professional healthcare communication with others benefit and contributes to a better health outcomes. The lack of personal and professional healthcare communication contributes to poor outcomes. Theories and principles of therapeutic communication greatly benefit the healthcare setting, patients, and the healthcare professionals.
Define Healthcare Communication Healthcare communication is defined as a process that facilitates interdependence among members of a healthcare group or unit. Communication has multiple meaning and comes in many ways, and this process enhances the shared ideas within the healthcare setting. Healthcare communication is important, it is narrow in scope, and it concerns the individuals with healthcare related information. Healthcare interaction between individuals that communicate can be verbal, nonverbal, oral, or written. Communication can be personal or impersonal issues dealing within healthcare settings. “In health communication, the focus is on specific health-related transactions and factors that influence these transactions” (Northouse & Northouse, 1998, p. 3). Healthcare communication is not only just with patients. Healthcare communication is national and worldwide. Effective competent healthcare communication is for the best outcomes that are involved in health care. It is essential in coordinating activities within the units or groups that encompasses health care administration and staff members. It is also very crucial in therapeutic groups or support groups that range in the healthcare concepts.
Relevancy of Effective Personal Healthcare Communication To maximize efficient communication through personal healthcare with other healthcare professionals, clients, and patients is to share ideas and teach through efficient communication. Society has considered Healthcare units some of the most effective preventative groups. Some of these units or groups deal with reproductive health, substance abuse, and family violence is a common issue in the healthcare groups. There are some health care groups that treat for fatal diseases such as cancer patients, hospice groups, and communication is centered on giving support. Effective communication is the key to effective outcomes in personal groups or units. All healthcare providers, groups, or units need to have a management system. In those systems they will consist of representatives. They share information about healthcare administration. However, if the communication is ineffective, the whole system and the outcome process will decreased (Northouse & Northouse, 1998).
Relevancy of Effective Professional Healthcare Communication Professional healthcare relationships come in many forms. These include physician-nurse, nurse-patient, nurse-social worker, nurse-family, to name a few. In each organization there are professional relationships that are affected by the roles each person plays. Effective communication in a professional healthcare setting is very critical for the best health outcome. It provides an avenue for achieving the goals in the health care setting. If members of the team cannot agree in providing certain care to a patient, it may become problematic to improve the health care professional’s outcomes. Communicating the differences among team members would be beneficial for some kind of an agreement for the best outcome. Additionally, there are some organizations that create task forces, advisory groups, and support groups designed to look into certain aspects of health institutions that may not be working adequately. They cannot achieve their outcome if there is a lack of communication (Northouse & Northouse, 1998).
Lack of Effective Personal and Professional Healthcare Communication There are many factors or conflicts that can contribute to the lack of effective communication. Getting coworker to work, as a team can be the most challenging factor. Conflicts are definitely something most fear and want to avoid, but working with people, some conflict is inevitable. Conflict sources can be caused by a professional not know their role or duties as they should, conflict of interest, communication barriers, lack of delegation, working outside of scope of practice, unresolved prior conflicts, and lack of support, are just a few. If significant, an ineffective communication skill contributes to poor health outcomes (Hansten & Jackson, 2009). For example, a therapeutic unit or group has been formed to tackle substance abuse of any kind, and this group has created a safe and supportive atmosphere among them. If communication is poorly done, by placing blame on the affected members, then some may be tempted to think they are the cause of the problem. This can severely hamper the therapeutic process (Northouse & Northouse, 1998). Lack of effective personal and professional communication can cause harm or have a negative outcome.

Theories and Principles of Therapeutic Communication Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. The communication between the professional and the patient has a purpose and vision. The purpose, vision, and goals are care and assistance for the patient. It is essential that the professional’s master the principles of therapeutic communication. One important aspect of therapeutic communication is that it is nonjudgmental. In other words, the professional should accept what the patient is say, “As it is” without passing on any personal judgments. The professional should ensure that their interacts with the patient is founded upon sound goals for the affected parties, provide a comfortable atmosphere, safe environment, establish a rapport and trust with the patient, and the discussion relates to their health. Providing adequate privacy around so the communication can be effective between the professional and patient. The atmosphere or environment should encourage the patient to speak with openness. The professional should be honest, clear in what they are trying to communicate, provide written information for future references, and communicate at their level with the proper amount of touch, and help them to understand what is happening to their health. The professional should be an active listener in therapeutic communication. The professional should interpret and understand what the patient is trying to convey during communication. Ensure this by repeating what the patient said, and provide an opportunity for the patient to confirm the correct message; the patient is trying to say. These are some of the principles of therapeutic communication every professional should master and gain expertise (Chitty & Black, 2011).

Conclusion Effective communication in health care settings is relevant and critical to both personal and professional health outcomes, because it is use to achieve their goals. This paper has reflected on the importance and definitions of communication in relation to other healthcare professionals and patients, and the relevance of personal and professional communication in conjunction with interdisciplinary teams and healthcare outcomes. Lack of communication with the unit or group can be detrimental to the desired health outcome goals. Effective communication is the key to success in personal and professional relationships; it also reduces misunderstandings, frustration, and conflicts, which can lead to ineffective patient outcomes.

Reference
Chitty, K. K. & Black, B. P. (2011). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges (6th ed). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders.
Hansten, R. I. & Jackson, M. (2009). Clinical delegation skills: A handbook for professional practice (4th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Northouse, L. L. & Northouse, P. G. (1998). Health communication: Strategies for health professionals (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Pearson.