The Importance of Communication in Healthcare

Communication is a crucial element in all aspects of life. It is the way we deliver one information to others. In healthcare professions, good communication can enrich their patients’ health, which is beneficial for the patients. Meanwhile, ineffective communications can negatively impact patient well-being. Hence, it is important for all healthcare workers to realize how good communication can affect their patients. Succinctly, there are two groups in the health department which are the patients and the healthcare workers themselves. Therefore, the importance of communications towards these two types of groups has a little bit different, but the main goal is the same, which is a good communication can save the lives of others.  

Here, I attach some of the importance of communications in health care towards patients, in which it is more likely to benefit the patient itself. 

• Ensure that the patients will understand our commands before, during, and after the procedure or examination, especially when positioning the patient for the medical imaging procedure. There will be a lot of instructions to be given to the patients by a radiographer in order to get the quality of a good image. Here where a better communications practices are beneficial. The two-way communications will lead to a successful procedure at the end of the examinations. 
• Enhance access to their medical histories, which reduces chances of medical errors
• Avoid repetition of exposure towards patient if the patient able to understand the instructions

Whereas, among the healthcare workers, there is a little bit difference in relation to the importance of communications. 

• To protect their patients from being double exposed to the radiation
• To save on hospital costs
• To enhance day-to-day operating efficiency
• To ensure that the patients get excellent service when every single thing runs smoothly among the workers. It will lead to patient satisfaction at the end of the services
• To reduce misinformation or misunderstanding among fellow health care workers
• To ensure the efficiency of the communication leads to the success of the treatment

It can be concluded that communication is somehow an important thing in our daily lives as it is the platform for us to deliver our pieces of information. According to the Islamic perspectives, good communications can give benefits in terms of strengthening our bond between Muslims and non-muslims. As Allah S.W.T has declared in Surah Al-Isra’ verses 28: 

“And if you [must] turn away from the needy awaiting mercy from your Lord which you expect, then speak to them a gentle word” (Surah al Israa 17: 28)

From this verse, it is understandable that the necessity of communicating effectively is not only because of the ethics provided by the healthcare department, indeed Allah S.W.T also asks a human being to speak nicely to others in order to clearly deliver the information to others without any misunderstanding occur. If we see at the healthcare workers' perspectives, it is undeniable that they will be very busy managing all the patients. In fact, they did not have much time to answer the sudden question from a person properly. But, as a Muslim worker that understands this verse, despite your busy schedule and you are unable to fulfill their demand, then at least just be kind enough to them. Talk nicely without using harsh words to them that Allah loves human beings who do good for others. 

Okey. That's all for this part. May you gain something beneficial here to be used in the future insyaallah💜

References:

1. Regis College Online. (2021, October 29). What Is the Importance of Communication in Health Care? Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://online.regiscollege.edu/blog/importance-communication-health-care/#:%7E:text=Effective%20communication%20%E2%80%94%20both%20intrahospital%20and,reduces%20chances%20of%20medical%20errors.

2. Effective Communication in Health Care. (2021, September 29). Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/communication-in-healthcare/

3. Health eCareers. (2010, November 2). Effective Communication in the Radiologic Technology Workplace. Copyright 1996–2015 Health ECareers All Rights Reserved. Retrieved January 18, 2022, from https://www.healthecareers.com/article/career/effective-communication-in-the-radiologic-technology-workplace