Are shifting communication styles crumbling old silos?

Abstract

Clear communication is essential to provide high-quality health care. The medical environment is changing. Older physicians and nurses are retiring being replaced with younger professionals who are not as concerned with gender roles and who appreciate technical communication. Along with the changing setting is the introduction of communication frameworks that are more comprehensive and consider both verbal and nonverbal modems of communication. This article provides an anecdotal event evaluated by the Hannawa ‘SACCIA Safe Communication” framework but also considers the changing medical landscape which may be helping to dissolve miscommunication silos. The fast-paced, fluid medical environment calls for a more robust, interactive communication tool. Healthcare providers would benefit from education on the entire communicative process needed for successful communication.