The ability of hospitals to effectively communicate with employees and physicians is becoming more challenging as providers face increasing demands on their time, according to a blog post by Rebecca Kirkham, senior vice president of Lovell Communications.
Ms. Kirkham shares six principles for breaking through the noise of competing initiatives and busy schedules to communicate internally in a hospital:
1. One size doesn't fit all. Hospital leaders should use different communication mediums, such as email, posters, videos and text messaging, to reach different audiences within the hospital, according to Ms. Kirkham.
2. Managers are influential. "Studies show that employees are more likely to retain information when it's shared by their manager," Ms. Kirkham said. Hospital executives should provide managers with the tools to effectively communicate information to employees.
3. Keep it conversational. Simple, informal messages are useful for concisely reaching a hospital's internal audience. "Nix the jargon, lean on graphics and make it fun," Ms. Kirkham said.
4. Can you hear me now? "Similar to external marketing campaigns, repetition of key messages using multiple channels is key to audiences retaining it," Ms. Kirkham wrote.
5. Got message? A hospital's message to employees and physicians should have substance and a purpose, or they may "tune you out," according to Ms. Kirkham.
6. Measure. Measure. Measure. Leaders should measure baseline awareness and retention of knowledge after a communication campaign to determine its effectiveness.
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