Impact of Communication Inefficiencies in Healthcare

This report presents findings from a survey conducted by Becker’s Healthcare and TigerConnect, focusing on communication inefficiencies in hospitals and health systems. The survey examined how reliance on multiple communication systems, such as land-line phones, faxes, and secure texting apps, creates significant barriers to effective clinical and operational workflows. It highlights seven specific types of communication inefficiencies that clinicians frequently encounter, including difficulties in searching for contacts, miscontacting individuals, and dealing with interruptions from various communication tools. The report also notes that a majority of clinicians experience these inefficiencies regularly, which can lead to delays in care delivery and negatively impact patient outcomes. Furthermore, the report discusses the disconnect between perceptions of clinical staff and C-suite leaders regarding the impact of these inefficiencies on patient throughput and staff morale. It concludes by suggesting that a unified communication system could help address these challenges and improve overall healthcare delivery.