Communication and Interprofessional Collaboration
Core concepts
Effective communication is a clinical safety tool. Use SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendation), closed-loop communication, active listening, plain language, teach-back, and qualified interpreters. Health literacy and cultural humility shape understanding. Interprofessional collaboration requires clarity about roles, shared goals, psychological safety, and structured handoffs. Family meetings and conflict resolution should center the patient's goals and objective data. Documentation should be timely, factual, and free of blame.
Traps
SBAR is not a script for talking at someone; it requires a clear recommendation and confirmation. Teach-back is not "Do you understand?" It asks the patient to explain or demonstrate in their own words. Avoid jargon, assumptions about literacy, and using family members as interpreters for sensitive or complex information. Do not let hierarchy suppress safety concerns; escalate with data.
Worked example
Physical therapy and nursing disagree about discharge readiness. A strong response is to convene a brief team discussion using objective functional data, the patient's goals, and a shared safety plan. A weak response is to defer to the loudest or most senior voice.
Rule of thumb
If the listener cannot repeat the plan back accurately, the communication has not yet succeeded.