Evaluating Effective Communication Methods: Improving Internal Communication

• Main Author: Suthers, Amber L
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2017
• Subjects: Communication; internal communication; communication issues; hospital communication; management and communication; communication channels; Health and Medical Administration
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3293; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4738&context=etd

Relaying information from a Chief Communications Officer (CIO), or centralized communications departments to hospital employees is not always efficient or effective. Employees may not be informed of important changes to department protocols or hospital policies. The purpose of the study was to determine the most efficient and effective forms of internal communications in the hospital setting. A total of 83 surveys were mailed to communication officers working in Tennessee hospitals in and east of Nashville. Sixteen communication officers responded. This low response rate may be attributed to poor designation of communication responsibilities and an abdication of responsibilities to an off campus (corporate) source. One significant difference was found regarding the preference of supervisor contact to relay feedback in the age groups of 31-40 and 51-60. Those 31-40 were less likely to prefer direct supervisor contact as their favored communications channel as opposed to 51-60 year olds who favored this method.