STANDARD 3.

Communication

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) must use clear and effective communication techniques to provide information to support safe, competent, ethical patient/client care.

Performance Requirements

RTs:

9

Communicate pertinent information clearly and accurately to patients/clients, healthcare team members, and others through verbal, non-verbal, and/or written means.

9

Deliver information in a manner that acknowledges individual diversity and health literacy and facilitates patients’/clients’ understanding of pertinent information.

9

Demonstrate professionalism and respect in all forms of communication (e.g., verbal, non-verbal, written, social media).

9

Use information communication technologies appropriately to provide safe care to patients/clients.

9

Use appropriate techniques for the accurate, secure, and timely transfer of information to other healthcare team members.

9

Refrain from making false, deliberately misleading or offensive statements, contrary to the interests of the public or the honour and dignity of the profession, whether orally or in writing.

9

Abide by privacy legislation and understand when it is appropriate to share, what information may be shared, and to whom it must be shared.

9

Document every patient/client interaction in a timely manner, using the most suitable format.

Patient / Client Expected Outcome

Patients/clients can expect that RTs communicate clearly and professionally when providing care.

RELATED RESOURCES

College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Ethics.pdf
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2013). CRTO Social Media Policy. Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Policies/PR_Social_Media_103.pdf
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario et al. (2013). Pause Before You Post: Social Media Awareness for Regulated Healthcare Professionals E-learning Module. Available at http://www.crto.on.ca/members/professional-development/e-learning/
National Alliance of Respiratory Therapy Regulatory Bodies. (2016). National Competency Framework for the Profession of Respiratory Therapy. Part 1. National Standards for Entry-to-Practice. Available at: http://www.csrt.com/2016-national-competency-framework/

GLOSSARY

Appropriately refers to in accordance with ethical, legal, technical and/or clinical requirements of professional practice.

Communicates refers to “give or exchange thoughts, feelings, information… by writing, speaking, etc.; to exchange thoughts, feelings, or information easily or effectively.”[1] It implies a two-way communication process between the speaker and recipient involving active listening and reception.

Competent refers to “having the requisite knowledge, skills and judgment/abilities to perform safely, effectively and ethically and applying that knowledge, skills and judgment/abilities to ensure safe, effective and ethical outcomes for the patient/client.”[2]

Healthcare team refers to “peers, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals (regulated and non-regulated)”.[3]

Patient/client refers to individuals and their families requiring care or services. This may also include his/her substitute decision-maker or guardian.[4]

Professionalism or professional conduct is a term often used to describe the behaviours that are expected of individuals who hold a certain role in society. A “professional” is typically someone who has obtained skills that are recognized as requiring specific, intensive training and who applies those skills in a positon impacting others (e.g., engineer, lawyer, RT, PT, MD, etc.). Professionals are often held to moral, ethical, and legal standards because of this potential impact.[5]

Timely refers to “happening at the correct or most useful time: not happening too late.”[6]

Related Standards

$

S2. Collaboration/Interprofessional Collaboration

$

S7. Documentation & Information Management

$

S10. Patient/Client Assessment & Therapeutic Procedures

$

S11. Privacy/Confidentiality

$

S12. Professional Boundaries/Therapeutic & Professional Relationships

FOOTNOTES

Adapted from Dictionary.Com. (2017). Online Dictionary. Available at: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/communicated
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: https://ethics.crto.on.ca
College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: https://ethics.crto.on.ca
Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2010). A Commitment to Ethical Practice. Available at: https://ethics.crto.on.ca
Adapted from College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario. (2017). Conduct Counts! Available at: http://www.crto.on.ca/pdf/Conduct/Conduct_Counts_02-2017.pdf
Merriam-Webster. (2016). Online Dictionary. Available at: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timely