Communication | Best Practice, Better Practitioners

Other Core Competencies:

To communicate effectively with patients, families, carers, colleagues and others involved in health services in order to facilitate the provision of high-quality health care through:

gathering and understanding of information
discussing and communicating options to patients and colleagues
communicating effectively to patients and colleagues.

Select the PGY (1–3) tabs below to view the progression of the expected skills, knowledge and behaviours across the early postgraduate years

Key clinical tasks and the workplace

The related key clinical tasks (KCT) have been designed to help you apply the Framework to your job. You can use these to obtain feedback on, and/or assessment of, your level of performance.

Select the check box next to a KCT for guidance on developing your communication skills and knowledge for this task

Select the KCT title to see the complete task, related competencies and downloadable assessment form

Provide clear and accurate information to patients for common procedures in the unit and most commonly prescribed medications

Communication

Build rapport with the patient’s family and/or carer(s)
Show respect for diversity, confidentiality and autonomy when communicating with patients e.g. adapt language, use of interpreter services
Actively listen to patients and families using techniques such as appropriate eye contact, attending to verbal and non-verbal cues and clarifying information provided by patient

Has knowledge of the principles of open disclosure:

Communication

Australian Open Disclosure Framework Medical Council New Zealand Statement

Accurately document medicine prescription, calculations and administration, using recommended terminology, including symbols and abbreviations

Identify and overcome communication barriers that may occur due to a patient’s age, physical impairment, cognitive ability or literacy level

Communicate effectively with patients to take clinical history

Provide updates to the current health team, e.g. new critical issues or changes in a patient’s condition

Recognise and respond appropriately to graded assertiveness

Comply with organisational policies regarding comprehensive and accurate documentation

Demonstrate high-quality written skills to communicate clinical reasoning, e.g. write case notes legibly, concisely and informatively

Attend to clarity, structure and appropriate content for specific correspondence, e.g. handover notes and investigation requests

Use electronic resources in patient care, e.g. to obtain results, populate discharge summaries, access medicines information and maintain health records

Gather information from a variety of sources and use it to ensure continuity of patient care, e.g. referral letters, case records, test results, electronic information

Participate in clinical handover in a manner that ensures patient safety and continuity of care

Prepare discharge summaries and include current list of medication and reasons for any medication changes

Use a range of strategies to involve patients in discussions and decisions about their care, including presenting options and clarifying understanding. This should lead to recommendation and decision about management

Use appropriate techniques and support when responding to patients and families in distress, and facilitate consultant involvement early in the process; to include participation in open disclosure discussions

Can explain the common conditions of the unit effectively to patients and undertake informed consent for common elective and emergency conditions

Communication

See College position paper for Informed Consent and the Medical Council New Zealand statement

Explain clinical reasoning to current health team using concise language and a structured approach

Keep patients and significant others informed of management plan progress

Identify potential areas for communication breakdown and take action to avoid problems of miscommunication

Communicate effectively within multidisciplinary teams, reflecting an understanding of, and respect for, different health professional perspectives

Communicate effectively with administrative bodies and support organisations

Demonstrate high-quality written skills to communicate clinical actions, e.g. discharge summaries and completion of tasks before discharge

Use effective strategies to deal with difficult or vulnerable patients

Conform to principles of open disclosure, noting the hospital’s policy if involved in an adverse event.

Communication

Able to co-ordinate and lead open disclosure discussions

Obtain fully informed consent for common elective and emergency conditions

Set an appropriate tone for any communication with patients and their families, peers and colleagues

Communicate effectively with complex patients to take clinical history, identifying key comorbidities, e.g. use open and closed questions to elicit information

Communicate clearly and compassionately when breaking bad news or discussing difficult topics (deterioration, poor prognosis, resuscitation and end-of-life issues)

Collect and collate relevant information from other team members or specialist teams pertinent to decision making or patient management

Contribute to analysis of complex cases and imperfect outcomes, and identify any changes needed to care processes or systems

Use graded assertiveness where appropriate