Effective communication is fundamental to safe, high-quality healthcare, yet it remains one of the most common contributors to patient harm. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care reports that poor communication is involved in more than 60% of sentinel events in hospitals.
Improving this is not about more training, it is about better training. Targeted, evidence-informed education that strengthens how teams communicate is essential to improving both patient outcomes and workforce safety.
Why Communication Breaks Down
Healthcare communication is complex. Teams work across disciplines, shifting priorities, and high-pressure environments where small gaps in information can have serious consequences. Structured tools such as ISBAR (Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) help reduce variation in communication and improve clarity. Evidence shows ISBAR improves confidence and reduces communication errors, particularly during clinical handover. However, tools alone are not enough. Communication also depends on culture, confidence, and context. When staff do not feel psychologically safe to speak up or escalate concerns, even the best systems fail.
Structured Tools Need Shared Understanding
National standards such as the NSQHS Communicating for Safety Standard require health services to implement structured communication processes and reliable handover systems.
While these frameworks are essential, their effectiveness depends on how well they are taught, reinforced, and embedded into everyday practice. Research consistently shows that communication tools are most effective when supported by targeted education that builds both technical skill and clinical judgment across different scenarios.
Real Change Happens When Teams Learn Together
Interprofessional Education (IPE), where different health professionals learn with and from each other, is one of the most effective ways to improve communication in healthcare teams. Evidence shows IPE improves understanding of roles, strengthens collaboration, and enhances communication in real clinical environments. Simulation-based learning further strengthens this by allowing teams to practise communication in realistic, high-pressure scenarios. This builds shared language, confidence, and consistency in how teams respond under pressure. Importantly, communication is not just a clinical skill. Administrative staff, support workers, and allied health professionals all play a critical role in ensuring safe and effective information flow.
Communication Is a Culture, Not a Tool
Sustainable improvement in communication does not come from training alone, it comes from culture. When teams consistently model open communication, support speaking up, and reinforce shared responsibility for patient safety, communication becomes embedded in everyday practice rather than treated as a compliance task. Strong communication cultures are built through repetition, leadership, and shared learning across the entire workforce.
Improving communication in healthcare requires more than tools or standalone training. It requires targeted, interprofessional education that builds shared capability across entire teams.
When organisations invest in how teams communicate, not just what they do, they create safer, more connected, and more resilient healthcare systems. Contact Healthcare Australia today to discuss our customisable educational programmes and discover exactly how we can support the safety of your facility.
References
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care – NSQHS Standards (2021)
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency – Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Statement of Intent (2024)
Müller et al. – ISBAR communication training and clinical communication competencies (BMJ Open, 2020)
Patel et al. – Interprofessional education scoping review (BMC Medical Education, 2025)
