1 min read

Playing Telephone During Transitions of Care

Playing Telephone During Transitions of Care

Dr. Christopher Johnson recently authored an article about the Dangerous Game of Telephone in Hospitals.  In the article, he describes his experience as an attending physician where hospital staff tends to adopt a passive voice and third person sentence construction when discussing any decisions doctors, nurses, and other staff members make about a patient's care. 

This habit only adds to the confusion that's already engrained in busy hospital teams where members are going on and off shift at different times, or begin caring for a patient they haven't seen yet but who other members of their care teams have been working with. Dr. Johnson says that in the ICU, discussion of patient case details often turns into a game of telephone where each time the information is relayed, another detail is left out, or false information is added, until the entire narrative is far from the truth. 

But hospital teams aren't the only ones who struggle with this issue. What about handoffs between healthcare entities like EMS? What about the confusion and miscommunication that ensues during inter-facility transfers?

We need to focus on the patient AND the ENTIRE healthcare team.  We need a regional healthcare communication network that yields truly connected teams. 

LEARN ABOUT PULSARA

How's Your Command Bench Strength?

How's Your Command Bench Strength?

Editor's Note: In May 2025, FireRescue1 released their annual digital edition, Fire Command Ready: Building Bench Strength, proudly sponsored by...

Read More >>
Standing with Texas: Supporting Resilience Through Coordinated Response

Standing with Texas: Supporting Resilience Through Coordinated Response

In the aftermath of the enormous tragedy and loss of life in the Texas floods, our hearts are with every individual, family, and community impacted....

Read More >>
10 Ways Pulsara Helps During Time-Sensitive Emergencies

10 Ways Pulsara Helps During Time-Sensitive Emergencies

Time-sensitive emergencies are demanding events. Rapid response, coordinated teams, and extensive resources are crucial for patients whose conditions...

Read More >>