Communication Enables Better Health Care

Technology today is constantly developing—more and more information is available faster and faster. Just this week I heard a story on National Public Radio about new viruses being genetically sequenced in a few days, rather than weeks or months. One comment from the interview really stood out in my mind:

"Communication about health-related issues just travels with the speed of light today. I think the problem of international communication—openness and sharing of information—is largely resolved." - Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventative Medicine at Vanderbilt University 

Dr. Schaffner was contrasting disease identification today with the SARS epidemic 10 years ago. The difference between 2003 and today: the enabler for three new virus detections in the last two months was communication—the coordinated sharing of information. 

Communication is integral to global health, and the World Health Organization appears well versed in their processes for managing epidemics at a macro level. What about at the micro level? How is the hospital down the street harnessing the complicated inputs of information and channeling them to the right people at the right time? Healthcare providers are a mobile bunch, on the move among patients, departments, and even different hospitals. Coordinating the care of patients is a complicated business, and healthcare facilities are continually adjusting their processes as technologies advance, devices diversify and new regulations are imposed. 

On Tuesday, October 16, Modern Healthcare is holding a virtual conference and expo Building Tomorrow's Delivery Model. One of the first sessions features Fairview Health Services. Like all hospitals, Minneapolis-based Fairview is facing major challenges with population management, readmissions, and changing reimbursements. Shannon Hubler, Director of Contact Center Operations, will present New Imperative: Elevating Critical Communications in Healthcare to Cope with a Changing Landscape. He will discuss how this healthcare leader is using communications technology to bolster a mobile workforce, reduce patients' average length of stay, and bring together once-disparate systems into an integrated framework. What is your hospital’s biggest communication challenge? What are the hurdles preventing your facility from overcoming them? 

What is your hospital’s biggest communication challenge? What are the hurdles preventing your facility from overcoming them?