Team based communication and the healthcare communication space
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 27 September 2018
Issue publication date: 9 October 2018
Abstract
Purpose
While previous studies have described structural, process and social aspects of the healthcare communication space there is no overall model of it. Such a model is an essential first step to improving the operationalization and management of healthcare communication. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper used a case study approach to study team-based communication on a palliative care unit. Non-participant observation, interviews and documents were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.
Findings
The analysis developed an overall model of the healthcare communication space that consists of five stages: purpose, practices and workflows, structures, implementation, and the development of common ground to support team-based communication. The authors’ findings emphasized that implicit communication remains a predominant means of communication and workflow issues at the individual level are a frequent cause of unnecessary group communication tasks.
Originality/value
To improve team-based communication we first need to develop protocols that support team communication needs such as loop closing of group communication tasks in order to minimize unnecessary individual communication tasks. We also need to develop common ground at the protocol, document and terminology levels as part of supporting team-based communication.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and a School of Management Research Fund from the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa. The authors also thank the palliative care team members for allowing the authors to observe and interview them.
Citation
Cornett, J.A. and Kuziemsky, C. (2018), "Team based communication and the healthcare communication space", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 32 No. 6, pp. 825-840. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-07-2017-0189
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited