AHRQ Patient Safety Network ► Communication in healthcare: a narrative review of the literature and practical recommendations.

AHRQ Patient Safety Network





Communication in healthcare: a narrative review of the literature and practical recommendations.

Vermeir P, Vandijck D, Degroote S, et al. Int J Clin Pract. 2015 Jul 6; [Epub ahead of print].

Communication problems have been linked to preventable adverse events in hospitalized and ambulatory patients. Despite the emphasis on the implementation and use of health information technology, written forms of communication are still prevalent. This review explores how poorly written communication can lead to delays due to readability of the information and recommends structured letters to manage what content is covered and the quality of the communication.

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