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Learn MoreWhile communication is extremely important in every healthcare environment, the Emergency Room stands out as one where communication success is critical, especially when saving lives can be a matter of quick decisions and responses within minutes or hours. An article in The Journal of Emergency Medicine observes that “Patient safety incidents are commonly observed in critical and high demanding care settings, including the emergency department. There is a need to understand what causes patient safety incidents in emergency departments and determine the implications for excellence in practice” (Amaniyan, 2019).
When researching literature about patient safety incidents, the authors above found that poor ED communication played a significant role in unfortunate patient outcomes. Communication lapses on the part of healthcare providers were an identified problem. According to Amaniyan, “Inadequate and poor staff communication were stated as a well-recognized safety challenge that was even more evident in EDs. Problems with the transfer of medical information and orders were considered an important communication-based factor that impacted patient safety. For example, failing to communicate changes in vital signs to the attending physician was an important factor for staff-related communication incidents in EDs” (Amaniyan et al, 2019). In some case , treatment for patients was delayed due to communication failure at the time of handoff between shifts. Additionally, medication management issues such as wrong doses, incorrect medicines, delayed or missing doses, and miscalculations were also attributable to communication problems. Further challenges included lack of compliance with patient safety protocols, such as infection control, clerical or laboratory processes, and incomplete discharge instructions were emphasized in the literature (Amaniyan, 2019).
An article about improving ED outcomes focused significantly on the noise problem in emergency departments (Welch et al, 2015) and how it can inhibit successful communication. Some strategies to overcome it include:
An article about improving ED Outcomes offers that “Provider organizations with great teams are more effective in improving quality and reducing costs. According to the Joint Commission, communication failure is one of the most-frequently identified root causes of reported sentinel events.” An important strategy to strengthen the ED team is to emphasize “teamwork and communication to create better experiences for patients and staff” (Sharma et al, 2017). In addition, it is a good idea to employ communication tools and methods to share important departmental information, as well as gather feedback from frontline staff. Consider implementing a daily interdisciplinary ED huddle, a worthwhile message of the week, and even creating a virtual suggestion box.
Amaniyan, S., et al, “Learning from Patient Safety Incidents in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review,” The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 13 December 2019, Retrieved at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0736467919310121.
Sharma, R., et al, “How One Urban Emergency Department Is Making Care Better,” American Association for Physician Leadership News, October 30, 2017, Retrieved at https://www.physicianleaders.org/news/field-report-how-an-urban-emergency-department-is-making-care-better.
Welch, S., et al, “Strategies for Improving Communication in the Emergency Department: Mediums and Messages in a Noisy Environment,” The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, June 2013, Retrieved at https://www.edbenchmarking.org/assets/docs/hottopics/welch%20communication%20and%20noise%20in%20%20%20%20the%20ed.pdf.
HealthStream’s workforce education solutions are already trusted by more than 70 percent of healthcare organizations in the U.S. Our comprehensive suite of learning and competency management tools empowers your people to deliver the best care more easily and effectively than ever before. Powered by the industry’s top content providers, HealthStream's Learning & Performance solutions connect you to healthcare’s largest learning community with a learning management system customized by you to meet your organization’s unique needs.
HealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
View All Learning & PerformanceHealthStream offers performance learning management solutions to help develop your healthcare staff into leaders and reduce turnover.
View All ProductsHealthStream works with healthcare organizations to create engaging and high-quality training videos for your staff and management.
View All ProductsImprove care quality and save money by making informed decisions about your healthcare facility and staff with HealthStream's reporting analytics solution.
View All ProductsHealthStream's proven methods for the improvement and overall engagement of your healthcare staff foster a positive workplace and increase retention rates.
View All ProductsThe leadership development program from HealthStream helps mold your high-potential healthcare employees into proven leaders.
View All ProductsWhen you enact HealthStream's quality compliance solutions, you can do so with the confidence your healthcare organization will meet all standards of care.
View All Quality & ComplianceFulfill compliance requirements with a variety of programs and courseware designed to address critical regulatory requirements as well as educate staff to recognize and mitigate risks.
View All ProductsBy increasing your healthcare staff's focus on quality and safety with HealthStream, they can help to reduce medical errors and readmission rates.
View All ProductsLearn about what HealthStream's healthcare policy management software and how it can help aid your organization efforts.
View All ProductsHealthStream's education helps address diversity, equity, and inclusion within your organization, as well as promoting health equity in the communities you serve.
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View All ProductsIn all areas of resuscitation, from neonatal to elderly care, clinical deterioration is a risk that can be avoided with the help of HealthStream's training programs.
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View All ProductsThe suite of healthcare onboarding solutions available from HealthStream aids in nurse retention and improved patient outcomes.
View All ProductsGive your healthcare staff the decision support and skills training they need with the online products available from HealthStream.
View All ProductsHealthStream's solutions allow your healthcare workforce to be confident and competent with the knowledge they are upholding the highest of standards.
View All ProductsHealthStream’s learning management system and comprehensive suite of competency management tools empower your healthcare workforce to deliver the best patient care.
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View All ProductsTake the stress out of scheduling with real-time technology that engages nurses and healthcare workers from HealthStream.
View All ProductsProvide an easier way to view healthcare staff capacity insights while seeing a patient’s journey with HealthStream’s operational intelligence and machine learning products.
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