Improving Patient Safety and Patient-Provider Communication: A Clinical Forum

doi:10.1044/2019_persp-19-00134

Improving Patient Safety and Patient–Provider Communication

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_pers-sig12-2019-0021 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

pp. 1017-1027 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Richard R. Hurtig ◽

Rebecca M. Alper ◽

Karen N. T. Bryant ◽

Krista R. Davidson ◽

Chelsea Bilskemper

Keyword(s):

Acute Care ◽

Augmentative And Alternative Communication ◽

Health Care Team ◽

Provider Communication ◽

Alternative Communication ◽

Patient Provider Communication ◽

Acute Care Settings ◽

Nurses Perceptions ◽

Communication Needs ◽

The Impact

Purpose Many hospitalized patients experience barriers to effective patient–provider communication that can negatively impact their care. These barriers include difficulty physically accessing the nurse call system, communicating about pain and other needs, or both. For many patients, these barriers are a result of their admitting condition and not of an underlying chronic disability. Speech-language pathologists have begun to address patients' short-term communication needs with an array of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies. Method This study used a between-groups experimental design to evaluate the impact of providing patients with AAC systems so that they could summon help and communicate with their nurses. The study examined patients' and nurses' perceptions of the patients' ability to summon help and effectively communicate with caregivers. Results Patients who could summon their nurses and effectively communicate—with or without AAC—had significantly more favorable perceptions than those who could not. Conclusions This study suggests that AAC can be successfully used in acute care settings to help patients overcome access and communication barriers. Working with other members of the health care team is essential to building a “culture of communication” in acute care settings. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.9990962

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SIG 15 Perspectives Vol. 20, No. 3, September 2015

Perspectives on Gerontology ◽

10.1044/gero20.3.c1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

Keyword(s):

Learning Center ◽

Link Type

Abstract Download the CE Questions PDF from the toolbar, above. Use the questions to guide your Perspectives reading. When you're ready, purchase the activity from the ASHA Store and follow the instructions to take the exam in ASHA's Learning Center. Available until August 13, 2018.

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The Need for Nurse Training to Promote Improved Patient-Provider Communication for Patients With Complex Communication Needs

Perspectives on Augmentative and Alternative Communication ◽

10.1044/aac22.2.112 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 112-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Debora Downey ◽

Mary Beth Happ

Keyword(s):

Health Care Providers ◽

Communication Disorders ◽

Provider Communication ◽

Nurse Training ◽

Care Providers ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

Complex Communication Needs ◽

Team Members ◽

Patient Provider Communication ◽

Communication Needs

Abstract Hospitalized patients across the age continuum often present with complex communication needs (CCN) due to motor, sensory, cognitive, and linguistic barriers they may experience during their admission. Although hospitals recognize the need to enhance communication to improve quality and safety for all patients, the emphasis has been primarily on improving ”care coordination” amongst the health care providers the patient encounters across all points of admission. Most hospitals have yet to focus on improving the patient-provider communication experience, especially for patients with CCN. However, this population no longer can be ignored, as new standards mandate efforts to improve communication for patients with CCN. Nurses, as the team members responsible for continuous care during hospital stays, and speech-language pathologists, as communication disorders specialists, are positioned distinctively to facilitate patient communication and prevent miscommunications between patients and care providers. This article highlights the need to enhance the patient-provider communication experience for patients with CCN. We review the state of nurse training for patients with CCN, discuss the role speech-language pathologists can play in developing and implementing nurse training protocols, and outline basic elements nurse training modules should include.

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SIG 10 Perspectives Vol. 18, No. 2, October 2015

Perspectives on Issues in Higher Education ◽

10.1044/ihe18.2.c1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

Keyword(s):

Learning Center ◽

Link Type

Download the CE Questions PDF from the toolbar, above. Use the questions to guide your Perspectives reading. When you're ready, purchase the activity from the ASHA Store and follow the instructions to take the exam in ASHA's Learning Center. Available until July 30, 2018.

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SIG 9 Perspectives Vol. 25, No. 1, April 2015

Perspectives on Hearing and Hearing Disorders in Childhood ◽

10.1044/hhdc25.1.c1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Learning Center ◽

Link Type

Download the CE Questions PDF from the toolbar, above. Use the questions to guide your Perspectives reading. When you're ready, purchase the activity from the ASHA Store and follow the instructions to take the exam in ASHA's Learning Center. Available until February 3, 2018.

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SIG 10 Perspectives Vol. 18, No. 1, June 2015

Perspectives on Issues in Higher Education ◽

10.1044/ihe18.1.c1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Learning Center ◽

Link Type

Download the CE Questions PDF from the toolbar, above. Use the questions to guide your Perspectives reading. When you're ready, purchase the activity from the ASHA Store and follow the instructions to take the exam in ASHA's Learning Center. Available until March 27, 2018.

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SIG 1 Perspectives Vol. 22, No. 2, March 2015

Perspectives on Language Learning and Education ◽

10.1044/lle22.2.c1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

Keyword(s):

Learning Center ◽

Link Type

Download the CE Questions PDF from the toolbar, above. Use the questions to guide your Perspectives reading. When you're ready, purchase the activity from the ASHA Store and follow the instructions to take the exam in ASHA's Learning Center. Available until January 3, 2018.

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SIG 8 Perspectives Vol. 16, No. 1, November 2015

Perspectives on Public Health Issues Related to Hearing and Balance ◽

10.1044/phi16.1.c1 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Keyword(s):

Learning Center ◽

Link Type

Download the CE Questions PDF from the toolbar, above. Use the questions to guide your Perspectives reading. When you're ready, purchase the activity from the ASHA Store and follow the instructions to take the exam in ASHA's Learning Center. Available until November 21, 2018.

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