The third resource in the Improving teams in healthcare series presents some of the worrying literature on the impacts of insufficient communication, and identifies barriers to smooth information transfer in a healthcare setting.
This resource is supported by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.
Poor team communication can have a significant impact; it is one of the leading contributory factors in adverse events.
This resource offers practical tips that individuals and teams can use - especially in an acute care setting - to improve their communication skills. The resource covers team brief/debrief, call-out and check-back, the two-challenge rule, read-back protocols and team huddles. It also shows the importance of a healthcare setting in which professionals feel able to communicate concerns and admit errors in a safe environment - one where blame is not attributed.
