Health Care and Medical Professionals

Healthcare workers who lack listening skills or speak or communicate in a manner that does not elicit trust and effective communication, negatively impact the patient, the hospital, and their own professional credibility. The inability to project the voice; speaking at a rate that is too fast, too slow; in a volume that is too soft or too loud, or any other vocal habit that detracts from communication, can all be factors that negatively affect the health-care worker-patient relationship. These same skills are important within the organizatoin, as head residents, team leaders, and others in positions of authority help set the professional and communicative tone of a setting.

Medical facilities should not expect their staff SLPs to provide this type of service. They have incredibly busy caseloads, and asking them to "treat" the staff would reinforce a stigma that something is wrong and requires therapy. Instead, hire an off site SLP who specializes in professional communication skills. That way, this person is brought in as an expert trainer, and can also provide opportunities for CEUs.