Conclusion

Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed your course COM100: Communication 100.

When patients rank their satisfaction with a healthcare organization, the number one driving force behind their score is that of communication. Even in the emergency room where wait times are compounded by bottlenecks and patients are subjected to other patients taking priority, communication is the key to satisfied patients.

In the not too distant past, health insurance companies more tightly restricted the availability of providers. As such, if you were the only contracted provider for an insurance company, it did not matter too much how satisfied your patients were. They did not have a choice. Today, however, most of us have a choice as to whom we can see, and our networks are a little less strict; thus, providing us options. If we are unhappy with a provider or a facility, we can more than likely choose another.

Competition, therefore, drove the need for patient satisfaction. And communication is at the top of the list. Poor communication equals unhappy patients, regardless of the outcome. Good communication equals happy patients, and believe it or not, it has been found to diminish the amount of legal actions faced by health organizations.

Communication is critical. Therefore, this course examined many facets of communication. From nonverbal and verbal communication to understanding how to communicate in conflictual situations, this course has hopefully improved your communication skills.