Communication_Channels

Communication Channels Introduction What is communication' According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2011, communication is defined as a “process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior.” Communication has various forms of channels in which messages can be conveyed from one person to another. Communication may be expressed verbally, non-verbally, electronically, telephonically, facsimile, or by sign language. There are multiple channels in which a healthcare facility communicates. According to Du Pre, A. 2005, “health care organizations provide products, services, and information to help people maintain health and manage illness and injuries. Some types of health organizations are pharmacies, doctors’ offices, clinics, diagnostic centers, long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, fitness and wellness centers, counseling services, home health agencies, insurance companies, nonprofit agencies such as the American Heart Association, and more.” In this document it will discuss the two different healthcare care facilities of military and civilian facilities. It will discuss the various inventories of communication channels within each facility. Additionally, it will discuss the methodologies for disseminating health information with internal and external organizations. Military Healthcare Communication Channels As an employee of a military healthcare facility, our communication channels can vary from electronic medical records and email to written letters or memorandums, with similarities to the civilian sector the only difference would be our security clearances or privacy measures. Internally all health information is communicated through an electronic medical record system known as the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA). According to the AHLTA website, “This service provides real-time access to beneficiaries' information "on demand," healthcare providers are able to deliver safer and more efficient care around the globe. When minutes matter most, AHLTA can mean the difference between life and death. Whether it's on the battlefield or safely back home, this secure, robust, patient-centered data collection system is redefining the healthcare delivery experience (2006). This electronic medical record (EMR) is accessible through for the entire military medical network, giving access to 412 medical, 414 dental clinics and 65 military hospitals globally. The software is very simple to use and give beneficiaries full access to patient’s medical history, medication, appointments, referrals, all types of medical information needed to ensure continuity between facilities. This software has given providers a better continuity of care and accessibility globally for those downrange. Just like any form of communication channel, there are always positives and negatives that come with advances in technology. The positives being the accessibility that can come with an electronic medical record and how providers are able to communicate treatment plans or ensure continuity on how they will treat patients. The negative would be when the power goes out or there is too much congestion on the network that can slow or cause the EMR to fail. These factors happen on day to day bases and can lead to some very bad issues for both the patient and providers. For example; you go to your doctor’s appointment but AHLTA is down, how is the doctor going to know what your medication are or what their initial evaluation was the last time they saw you or maybe you were going in to get the results from a radiology or laboratory report. Nothing is available when the software is not working so the providers are pretty much just doing a physical evaluation or asking questions. This can have a significant outcome on how they provide treatment. Does this communication channel work' Yes, 90% of the time AHLTA never fails and if it does the organization has backup plans like paper forms or shadow files. Shadow files are paper records made specific to my clinic used as a training tool for the surgical residents. External communication with AHLTA is limited since it only applies to military treatment facilities or MTF’s. To communicate externally, the military insurance company TRICARE would contact civilian beneficiaries by mailing referrals or consult request by paper. This process can be tedious since the patient has to wait for the postal service and the civilian sector to process the request. AHLTA is always being updated and improved, with advances in networking and cloud services, EMR’s are starting to become more available than ever before. I recommend giving access to civilian sectors with limited capabilities to specific patient information. The letter mailing needed service used to get civilian healthcare for military patients can be very confusing and time consuming. Finding a faster more convenient way to provide this service could increase success rates and ensure patient continuity and safety. Also with cloud services becoming a new trend on how we save or store data through virtual servers on the internet, accessibility for civilian sectors can become possible as long as the military is monitoring this process. Baptist Health Systems Communication Channels Some examples of internal communications used at Baptist Health System are as follows. Baptist Health System produces a weekly newsletter that is distributed by email to all employees; this will ensure that the message gets out to everyone. If the employee does not have email the directors are asked to print and post in the break rooms to make sure that they get the message. There are also weekly meetings are part of what we do in our department to communicate. This meeting is to share information about upcoming events, rollouts of the operational items to be consistent across all of our clinics. Another thing that the Baptist health system does is Daily Rounding. Daily Rounding is important and is something that our leaders are encouraged to do with our staff and physicians. This lets the staff and physicians know that we care about them and the job that they are doing. Email is another way this is used in our facilities to communicate. This also makes sure that the message gets there quickly and to everyone the same. The Intranet site is a source where employees and physicians can go to find all the policies and procedure and guidelines for the organizations. This includes but is not limited to order sets for physicians, procedures for work related injuries, benefit information, career advancement opportunities. The next component of Internal Communication is Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Electronic Medical Records is another way for physicians and staff to communicate with each other to make sure orders are communicated and the plan of care. The last internal communication is the Tube System. The tube system is used to send orders from NICU to the pharmacy. The following are forms of external communications that are used. Email is the way most businesses use to communicate from company to company. It is also used from one facility to another within the organization. This is a way to speak to people all over. This also makes sure that the message gets there quickly and to everyone the same. “Professional interpreter services can increase delivery of health care to limited–English-speaking patients”. Electronic Medical Records is another way for physicians and staff to communicate with each other this is both internal and external. Electronic Medical Records is another way for physicians and staff to communicate within external companies for patient care and so that the physicians can see the plan of care from one specialty to another. Another means of communication is Interpreter service. This communication has proven to be beneficial in communication between physicians and patients as well as patients family members. Conclusion The most simple and secure ways to convey information is to use formal channels of communication when asking for guidance, when reporting issues, when giving and taking information. It does not matter where one works or what situation one may find themselves in effective communication is a necessity. The form in which one receives and conveys information whether it is verbal or non-verbal is very important and determines the outcome of a given task. Always practice effective communication as it will minimize the likelihood of negative reactance. Employees should evaluate every communicable information and look at how specific channel combinations can shift the ideal point. If a workplace’s reporting structure is too confining, one must make themselves available and connect with a team or a project that will enable them to do more and be more visible to others. According to Mitushi (2012),” The internal business communication, category includes building up ideals of your company, setting certain guidelines that you expect to follow in your business, carving out strategies and goals to ensure success, keeping your employees inspired and egging on all those involved in your business” (p. 111). Communication will always be very important to the characteristics of any business every day is a challenge in making sure that effective communication is present as a result a business will continue to flourish. References Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application . (2006). Retrieved from http://www.ahlta.us/ Impact of Interpreter Services on Delivery of Health Care to Limited–English-proficient Patients. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016007468.x/full Mitushi, J. (2012). Business Communication and its Strategy. Journal of Social Welfare and Management (2nd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.