What is true about communication in a healthcare setting?

In a healthcare setting, communication is an essential aspect of all interactions with clients. This encompasses verbal communication, such as engaging in conversations, as well as non-verbal cues, like body language, facial expressions, and gestures. Effective communication helps build rapport between healthcare providers and clients, facilitates the exchange of important information regarding care and treatment plans, and enhances patient safety and satisfaction.

The idea that communication only happens during therapy sessions is limiting since interactions can occur during routine activities, assessments, and everyday conversations. A holistic approach to patient care acknowledges that communication is ongoing and occurs in various contexts. Moreover, avoiding communication with non-verbal clients undermines their needs and can lead to misunderstandings, as even non-verbal individuals can express their needs and emotions through alternative means. Lastly, dismissing the relevance of communication in patient care overlooks its critical role in promoting understanding, providing support, and ensuring effective treatment outcomes.