Communication in Healthcare Settings: Policy, Participation and New Technologies

Now more than ever, successful healthcare practice is contingent upon effective interaction – either between practitioners and clients or among various members of the healthcare team. Communication in Healthcare Settings presents an illuminating snapshot of the state of communication within various healthcare settings around the world.

A wide range of communicative activities are examined, in a range of medical settings – from telephone-based helplines to surgical training – in Australasia, the US, continental Europe, and the UK. Contributors draw on established conversation analytic literature on medical interaction and broaden its scope by applying it to interactions involving a variety of healthcare professionals and their clients in settings beyond primary care. The authors paint a broader portrait of healthcare communication by examining how issues relating to policy, procedure, and technology are negotiated and managed throughout daily healthcare practice. Communication in Healthcare Settings provides healthcare professionals with insights into effective communication techniques necessary for any successful healthcare practice and also makes significant contributions to social science research in the field of health and illness.