Key Takeaways
- Interprofessional communication in healthcare helps teams coordinate care and reduce misunderstandings.
- Clear communication requires more than speaking fluent English; it also involves listening, clarification and respect.
- Structured tools such as SBAR can help IMGs give concise clinical updates.
- Closed-loop communication confirms that important instructions have been heard and understood.
- Healthcare professionals should feel able to raise safety concerns and disagree respectfully, regardless of hierarchy.
- Every task should have a clearly identified person responsible for completing it.
Introduction
Modern healthcare depends on professionals from different backgrounds working together. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and other team members may each hold different but equally important information about a patient.
For International Medical Graduates (IMGs), communicating within a new healthcare team can be challenging. Professional roles, workplace hierarchy and expectations around speaking up may differ from those in their previous healthcare systems.
Some IMGs may worry about appearing disrespectful when questioning a senior colleague. Others may give very detailed updates because they are unsure which information the listener needs.
Effective teamwork does not require perfect English. It requires communication that is clear, relevant, respectful and focused on patient safety.
Why Interprofessional Communication in Healthcare Matters
Poor communication between healthcare professionals can result in delayed treatment, duplicated work, unclear responsibilities or missed information.
The World Health Organization identifies interprofessional education and collaborative practice as important ways of strengthening healthcare systems. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s TeamSTEPPS programme similarly provides evidence-based tools for improving communication and teamwork within healthcare teams.
The following seven skills can help IMGs contribute more confidently and effectively.
1. Understand and Respect Different Professional Roles
Effective teamwork begins with understanding that each healthcare professional brings different knowledge and responsibilities.
For example:
- Nurses may notice subtle changes in a patient’s condition.
- Pharmacists may identify medication interactions or dosing problems.
- Physiotherapists may provide important information about mobility.
- Occupational therapists may recognise barriers to a safe discharge.
- Speech and language therapists may identify swallowing or communication difficulties.
Avoid assuming that one profession’s contribution is more important than another.
Useful phrases include:
- “What have you noticed during your observations?”
- “Could I get your advice about this medication?”
- “What are your main concerns about the discharge?”
- “From your assessment, what support will the patient need?”
Showing genuine interest in colleagues’ expertise helps build trust and encourages important information to be shared.
2. Give Concise, Structured Clinical Updates
Colleagues usually need concise clinical updates containing the most relevant information, not the patient’s entire medical history.
Before speaking, consider:
- Who is the listener?
- What do they already know?
- What has changed?
- What decision or action do I need?
SBAR can provide a useful structure:
- Situation: What is happening now?
- Background: What essential context is needed?
- Assessment: What do you think the problem is?
- Recommendation: What action do you need?
For example:
“I’m calling about Mr Ahmed in bed six. He was admitted with pneumonia and has become increasingly breathless over the last hour. His oxygen saturation is now 88% despite oxygen. I’m concerned that he is deteriorating and would like you to review him urgently.”
This is more effective than beginning with a long account of the original admission before explaining the current concern.
3. Clarify Rather Than Assume
In busy clinical environments, instructions may be given quickly or while several people are speaking.
If something is unclear, ask for clarification:
- “Could I clarify what you would like me to do?”
- “Do you mean that the medication should be stopped immediately?”
- “Would you like the scan arranged today or as a routine investigation?”
- “Just to confirm, are we repeating the blood test tomorrow morning?”
Asking for clarification does not make you appear incompetent. It demonstrates that you are taking responsibility for completing the task correctly.
This is particularly important when discussing:
- Medication doses
- Urgent investigations
- Changes in treatment
- Escalation decisions
- Discharge arrangements
- Follow-up of results
Do not pretend to understand an instruction if you are uncertain. A brief question can prevent a significant error.
4. Use Closed-Loop Communication
Closed-loop communication involves confirming that an instruction has been received and understood.
For example:
Senior doctor:
“Please arrange an urgent CT scan.”
Junior doctor:
“I’ll request an urgent CT scan now and let you know if there is any delay.”
The junior doctor repeats the important instruction and confirms responsibility for the action.
Closed-loop communication is particularly useful during emergencies or when several tasks are being allocated at once.
Other examples include:
- “I’ll give the medication now and confirm when it has been administered.”
- “I’ll contact the family and document the conversation.”
- “I’ll repeat the observations in 15 minutes and update you.”
- “I understand—you would like me to stop the infusion immediately.”
This may initially feel repetitive, but in high-pressure situations it helps establish a shared understanding.
5. Raise Patient-Safety Concerns Clearly
IMGs may sometimes hesitate to raise concerns, particularly when speaking to someone more senior.
However, patient safety should take priority over hierarchy.
Begin by stating the concern clearly:
- “I’m concerned that the patient is deteriorating.”
- “I’m worried that this medication may not be safe with the patient’s kidney function.”
- “I don’t feel comfortable discharging the patient without a further review.”
- “Could we pause and reconsider the plan?”
Give a specific reason:
“I’m concerned about sending her home because her blood pressure is falling and she lives alone.”
If the concern is not acknowledged, repeat it more directly:
“I understand your point, but I remain concerned about the patient’s safety. Could we ask for a senior review?”
Your organisation may have a formal escalation policy. Learn how concerns should be escalated locally and whom to contact if the first person does not respond.
6. Disagree Respectfully
Different opinions are normal within healthcare teams. Disagreement does not need to become confrontation.
Avoid language that sounds personal:
“You’re wrong.”
Instead, focus on the clinical issue:
- “I understand your reasoning. I’m concerned about…”
- “Could we consider another possibility?”
- “May I explain why I’m uncertain about that plan?”
- “I interpreted the results differently. Could we review them together?”
- “Would it be helpful to get another opinion?”
You can acknowledge the colleague’s perspective without automatically agreeing:
“I understand why you’re considering discharge. My concern is that the patient’s mobility has not yet been assessed.”
Tone and timing are also important. Unless there is an immediate safety risk, a sensitive disagreement may be better discussed privately rather than in front of the patient or wider team.
7. Confirm Responsibilities and Follow-Up
Communication is incomplete if everyone understands the plan but no one knows who will carry it out.
At the end of a discussion, clarify:
- What needs to be done
- Who will complete each task
- Which actions are urgent
- Who will review the results
- When the team should be updated
Useful phrases include:
- “Who will be responsible for following up the result?”
- “I’ll make the referral before the end of the ward round.”
- “Could you let me know when the assessment is complete?”
- “I’ll document the plan and update the nursing team.”
- “If the result is abnormal, who should I contact?”
Avoid vague statements such as:
“Someone will check it later.”
A clearer version is:
“I’ll check the result at 4 p.m. and discuss it with the registrar if it is abnormal.”
Clear ownership reduces the risk of important tasks being delayed or forgotten.
Useful Interprofessional Communication Phrases
Giving an update
- “The main change since yesterday is…”
- “I’d like to update you about…”
- “The most urgent issue is…”
- “My assessment is that…”
Asking for advice
- “Could I get your opinion on this?”
- “How would you suggest we manage this?”
- “Would you be able to review the patient?”
- “Is there anything else you need from me?”
Clarifying a decision
- “Could I check that I’ve understood the plan?”
- “What would you like me to prioritise?”
- “When should this be reviewed?”
- “Who will follow up the result?”
Raising a concern
- “I’m concerned about…”
- “I don’t feel that this is safe because…”
- “Could we reconsider the plan?”
- “I think the patient needs an urgent review.”
Disagreeing respectfully
- “I understand your perspective. My concern is…”
- “Could we consider an alternative?”
- “May I explain why I’m uncertain?”
- “Would it be helpful to seek another opinion?”
Final Thoughts
Interprofessional communication in healthcare is not simply about exchanging information. It is about developing a shared understanding of the patient’s condition, the plan and each person’s responsibilities.
For IMGs, unfamiliar hierarchy and workplace culture can make these conversations difficult at first. Structured updates, respectful clarification and closed-loop communication can provide a reliable starting point.
You do not need to sound forceful to communicate confidently. State concerns clearly, explain your reasoning and remain focused on patient safety.
With practice, these skills can help you build stronger professional relationships and become a more confident member of the healthcare team.
Book a consultation to discuss your goals and see how I can help.