In This Section

Communication

On this page

Definition of competency

To communicate effectively with patients, families, carers, colleagues and others involved in health services in order to facilitate the provision of high-quality health care through:

  • gathering and understanding of information
  • discussing and communicating options to patients and colleagues
  • communicating effectively to patients and colleagues.

Key clinical tasks and the workplace

The related key clinical tasks (KCT) have been designed to help you apply the Framework to your job. You can use these to obtain feedback on, and/or assessment of, your level of performance.

Select the PGY (1–3) tabs below to view the progression of the expected skills, knowledge and behaviours across the early postgraduate years.

  • PGY1
  • PGY 2
  • PGY 3
  • Provide clear and accurate information to patients for common procedures in the unit and most commonly prescribed medications:
    • Build rapport with the patient’s family and/or carer(s)
    • Show  respect for diversity, confidentiality and autonomy when communicating with patients e.g. adapt language, use of interpreter services
    • Actively listen to patients and families using techniques such as appropriate eye contact, attending to verbal and non-verbal cues and clarifying information provided by patient.
  • Has knowledge of the principles of open disclosure:
  • Accurately document medicine prescription, calculations and administration, using recommended terminology, including symbols and abbreviations.
  • Identify and overcome communication barriers that may occur due to a patient’s age, physical impairment, cognitive ability or literacy level.
  • Communicate effectively with patients to take clinical history.
  • Provide updates to the current health team, e.g. new critical issues or changes in a patient’s condition.
  • Recognise and respond appropriately to graded assertiveness.
  • Comply with organisational policies regarding comprehensive and accurate documentation.
  • Demonstrate high-quality written skills to communicate clinical reasoning, e.g. write case notes legibly, concisely and informatively.
  • Attend to clarity, structure and appropriate content for specific correspondence, e.g. handover notes and investigation requests.
  • Use electronic resources in patient care, e.g. to obtain results, populate discharge summaries, access medicines information and maintain health records.
  • Gather information from a variety of sources and use it to ensure continuity of patient care, e.g. referral letters, case records, test results, electronic information.
  • Participate in clinical handover in a manner that ensures patient safety and continuity of care.
  • Prepare discharge summaries and include current list of medication and reasons for any medication changes.
  • Use a range of strategies to involve patients in discussions and decisions about their care, including presenting options and clarifying understanding. This should lead to recommendation and decision about management.
  • Use appropriate techniques and support when responding to patients and families in distress, and facilitate consultant involvement early in the process; to include participation in open disclosure discussions.
  • Can explain the common conditions of the unit effectively to patients and undertake informed consent for common elective and emergency conditions
  • Explain clinical reasoning to current health team using concise language and a structured approach.
  • Keep patients and significant others informed of management plan progress.
  • Identify potential areas for communication breakdown and take action to avoid problems of miscommunication.
  • Communicate effectively within multidisciplinary teams, reflecting an understanding of, and respect for, different health professional perspectives.
  • Communicate effectively with administrative bodies and support organisations.
  • Demonstrate high-quality written skills to communicate clinical actions, e.g. discharge summaries and completion of tasks before discharge.
  • Use effective strategies to deal with difficult or vulnerable patients.
  • Conform to principles of open disclosure, noting the hospital’s policy if involved in an adverse event:
  • Able to co-ordinate and lead open disclosure discussions.
  • Obtain fully informed consent for common elective and emergency conditions.
  • Set an appropriate tone for any communication with patients and their families, peers and colleagues.
  • Communicate effectively with complex patients to take clinical history, identifying key comorbidities, e.g. use open and closed questions to elicit information.
  • Communicate clearly and compassionately when breaking bad news or discussing difficult topics (deterioration, poor prognosis, resuscitation and end-of-life issues).
  • Collect and collate relevant information from other team members or specialist teams pertinent to decision making or patient management.
  • Contribute to analysis of complex cases and imperfect outcomes, and identify any changes needed to care processes or systems.
  • Use graded assertiveness where appropriate.