Improved communication and transparency are crucial in healthcare to enhance patient care and reduce frustration and resentment.
Formal structures, technology, and personal gestures can be utilized to foster open communication and build relationships among healthcare professionals.
Deep dives
Poor Communication in Healthcare
Kelly, a nurse in a cardiovascular acute care unit, discusses the breakdown in communication among healthcare professionals. She highlights the negative impact of poor communication on patient care, leading to frustration, resentment, and compromised outcomes. Kelly recognizes the need for improved communication between nurses, doctors, and other teams involved in patient care. She emphasizes the importance of transparency and ensuring that everyone is informed and on the same page. Kelly seeks ways to foster a cohesive and communicative environment in her unit, proposing initiatives to create opportunities for healthcare professionals to get to know each other and build relationships.
Improving Communication in Complex Systems
The hosts explore the issue of communication breakdowns in organizations, using healthcare as an example. They emphasize the need for transparency and clear communication within complex systems, where many teams and individuals are involved. They discuss the challenges posed by hierarchies and temporary collaborative environments. The hosts suggest introducing formal structures, such as ice-breaker activities or initiations for new professionals, to foster connections and create spaces for open communication. They also advocate for leveraging technology to ensure that important information is relayed effectively to all relevant parties.
Taking Action and Restoring Agency
The hosts encourage Kelly to take action and influence change within her unit. They advise her to start by introducing herself to physicians and engaging in conversations that foster better relationships and understanding. They discuss the importance of creating welcoming environments and suggest small gestures, such as signs or personalized introductions, to demonstrate appreciation for healthcare professionals. The hosts also emphasize the need to address communication breakdowns at a systemic level, suggesting strategies to surface and address problems, improve transparency, and boost improvement initiatives throughout the organization.
This is an episode of Fixable, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective hosted by Anne Morriss and Frances Frei.
Kelli is a nurse at a leading teaching hospital where communication issues are not only leading to resentment – they could also be affecting patient care. After hearing from Kelli about the larger problems at play in the healthcare space, Anne and Frances discuss the link between communication and transparency and guide Kelli into taking matters into her own hands. This is an episode of Fixable, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective hosted by CEO and author Anne Morriss and Harvard Business school professor Frances Frei. If you want to be on Fixable, call our hotline at 234-Fixable (that’s 234-349-2253) to leave Anne and Frances a voicemail with your workplace problem. To hear more episodes on how to fix your work problems, fast, follow Fixable wherever you're listening to this.
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