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).