Over the years, most of us have learned a thing or two about American culture by watching their movies, listening to their music, and engaging in other forms of cultural interaction. Still, nothing can prepare us for communicating with the locals.
Like any other great nation, Americans have their own peculiarities, which can only be learned by spending some time in the country. In other words, if you’re a healthcare professional, you will have to adapt to their way of thinking quickly, so you don’t feel like an odd man out.
In this article, we will talk about the main things you should pay attention to when interacting with US professionals. Although people are different, these tips should provide basic guidance that will help you in most social situations.
Understanding Hierarchy
Although American organizations have well-established hierarchies, they also rely on the spirit of collaboration to keep things moving. Shared accountability is one of the main characteristics of healthcare organizations, where everyone works together to achieve joint goals. Among others, you’ll notice a high degree of interdepartmental teamwork.
Focus on Defined Roles
“Each person working at a hospital understands their role and purview,” according to Connetics, USA, an international nursing agency. “Although there might be some overlap, each person has their own responsibilities. Nevertheless, you must understand that there are more boundaries, not necessarily barriers.”
For example, GPs will consult specialists for certain cases and might even seek feedback from veteran nurses. Furthermore, nurse advocates provide vital input that helps healthcare providers better understand patients’ perspectives.
Open Communication on All Levels
American healthcare providers appreciate respectful communication and transparency on all levels. All employees are encouraged to share their opinions regarding potential safety issues and share their findings with other teams. In fact, healthcare providers are encouraged to make suggestions that would potentially improve the daily workflow.
Today, most hospitals use digital tools to enhance communication between teams, but also at a broader hospital level. Speaking of software, organizations now use EHRs (Electronic Health Records) to digitally share information regarding different patients. There are even protocols for conflict resolution, making it easier to solve interpersonal issues.
Structured Agility
As mentioned, American healthcare organizations expect that their staff will go beyond the call of duty. While there is a well-structured hierarchy in place, teams are generally flexible enough to allow for customized solutions. In fact, healthcare professionals are encouraged to adapt to clients’ needs, ensuring the highest quality of care.
With flexible scheduling, staff can adapt to patients while also avoiding burnout. Similarly, while guidelines should provide structure for the entire process, employees can modify them to meet current needs. Organizations love to promote employees within teams and provide cross-training, making it easier to adapt to staff shortages.
Interpersonal and Team Communication
Open communication is vital for improving patient outcomes and satisfaction. Americans are proud of their direct, yet inclusive and respectful interactions. While there is a noticeable feeling of hierarchy, people are aware of each other’s emotions and how words may impact other employees.
Emphasis on Clarity
Clarity is vital for maximizing patient outcomes. Healthcare organizations are always looking for ways to enhance verbal and written communication to prevent potential misinterpretation as information travels between employees and teams. Hospital management perceives ambiguity as a potential risk for patient, which is why they’re doing everything in their power to root it out.
All instructions are explicit, ensuring that nurses and doctors always understand what’s expected from them. Asking questions is encouraged, as it helps eliminate misunderstandings. There’s also a lot of emphasis on structured documentation, with teams and departments using the same formatting.
Active Listening
Whether they’re interacting with patients or colleagues, healthcare professionals should practice active listening. Using this approach is critical for building trust within teams and with healthcare organizations. Active listening improves team cohesion and ensures significantly better patient outcomes.
Doctors and nurses should maintain direct eye contact throughout all interactions, without interrupting the speaker. If necessary, healthcare professionals should paraphrase the speaker’s words to clarify their intent. Furthermore, they must show a certain level of empathy and emotional intelligence to make patients feel at ease.
Adaptability and Personal Growth
As a healthcare professional, you don’t always have the luxury of making slow, meticulous decisions. This is especially noticeable in emergency departments. Among others, healthcare experts are encouraged to adopt new skills and transition into different areas. An interdisciplinary mindset is especially important for organizations with high departmental flexibility.
Embracing Change
The healthcare industry has experienced some major changes in the last several years. There’s greater emphasis on telehealth, enabling remote assistance for all patients. New devices are introduced daily, requiring staff to acquire new technical skills. Given such a dynamic environment, healthcare experts must adapt on the fly to maintain the highest quality of service.
A large amount of new medical data is constantly changing how we treat patients, forcing continuous updates to clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should also be mindful of patients’ requirements, as they’re always seeking better, more convenient solutions and personalized care.
Continuous Learning
Given all the changes mentioned in the previous section, it is only to be expected that healthcare professionals will need to acquire new knowledge. In addition to completing college programs, healthcare professionals are encouraged to attend workshops, take various courses, and pass professional exams.
All healthcare professionals are required to track and report their continuing education units. Many of these certifications require ongoing updates to remain relevant to the latest clinical findings. The good news is that hospitals offer numerous development programs, at their expense, which would alleviate the financial burden on healthcare experts.
Becoming a Part of the Industry
While American healthcare organizations have distinct requirements, foreign medical professionals can adapt to their workflows relatively quickly. The most important thing is maintaining clear, open communication and showing due respect to all colleagues. The entire system revolves around patients, so do everything in your power to enhance the quality of care.