Communication in Emergency Medicine

Widely varying patient needs, a wide provider mix, significant power differentials, and a heightened emotional state all contribute to barriers in communication in the medical field and all of these elements are magnified in an emergency department. Communication in Emergency Medicine highlights key challenges to effective communication in Emergency Medicine that may be experienced by healthcare providers, students, nurses, and even hospital administrators. The text addresses these pitfalls by demonstrating how a mix of foundational communication techniques and leadership skills can be used to successfully overcome barriers in information exchange highlighted by real-life clinical scenarios with an emphasis on avoidable pitfalls. Chapters explore principles of communication, patient and family interactions, and communications within and outside of the healthcare system, rounding off with a number of case studies. The approach of utilizing the environment of an emergency department with high stakes conflicts faced every day by medical professionals distinguishes Communication in Emergency Medicine as an ideal resource for Emergency Medicine providers, with lessons which can also be applied in many other settings as well.