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11. Communicating effectively with healthcare professionals

Focused young male doctor pointing at digital computer tablet screen, sharing health tests laboratory results to serious female patient or explaining medical insurance benefits at meeting in clinic.

Sound processes are critical for effectively communicating aspects of anatomy and physiology in delivering care. 

These include:

  • Reading and understanding information that is communicated by a colleague, documented in clients’ health records or included in a handover. 
  • Documenting therapy sessions in the client's health record.  
  • Being able to understand and deliver a handover of relevant information to colleagues.  

To make communication between health professionals as effective as possible many useful tools are available.  

Commonly used formats include ISBAR for structured handover and the SOAP note for documentation in the client record.

For more information, go to (open in new windows):

◄ Introduction: Correspondence and documentation
Forum: Correspondence and documentation ►