Dialogue and understanding equals effective communication

Communication is the overwhelming theme in the article by Flynn et al. The article critiques a sample of communication in surgical wards with surgical patients over 5"‰years. The authors provide thoughtful contemporary analysis of the issues from the perspective of patients, families and carers. By design, it is only a sample (the numerator) and there will be many positive episodes of communication by surgical teams that are not recorded (the denominator). This is not simply another article promoting a specific framework, or competency, or course by RACS or others. The findings could be repeated in your location of practice (or the writer's).