The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we communicate with interprofessional teams and patients. Respond to the following questions: How has communication with patients changed? Provide examples

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The pandemic changed how we communicate with family, friends, and the public. The stay-at-home orders forced physicians to turn to telemedicine to stay connected to their patients. (Zarefsky, 2020) This is in the form of over-the-phone communication as well as video communication. This provided the physicians and patients with a safe way to get seen by their physicians and manage their health.

What are you doing to better communicate with patients and families?

 I am communicating with family members in person now, but we utilized FaceTime or phone calls during the pandemic when visitors were restricted in the hospital. I think it’s very important to keep the family updated, especially in places where travel is still limited, and families haven’t seen one another for a few years. I run into that situation occasionally, especially because I live in Florida, and we get a lot of Canadian “snowbirds” that have been stuck here because Canada wasn’t allowing travel for a long time.

How has communication among the interprofessional team changed?

Before the pandemic, Interprofessional communication was mostly done in person with patients in the office; during the pandemic, it switched gears to online video appointments, phone calls, or telehealth visits. The changing roles of the Interprofessional team seemed to shift gears or parts across each profession. Some were about to make a smooth transition, while others could not contribute to virtual care as their work was incompatible or it wasn’t easy to perform through virtual visits.

What needs to happen to make interprofessional communication better?

 Team members need to learn how to work together cooperatively, how to communicate with one another meaningfully, and how to make good healthcare decisions together. Team members need to share important information concerning the patient and their treatment. Each member can contribute knowledge and information regarding treatment. Adm