GI Unit Leadership: Shaping a High-Performing Endoscopy Unit (Virtual) | February 2026-03_Khan

03_Khan_Communication Strategies

Pdf Summary

The presentation "From Friction to Flow: Smooth Communication Strategies" by Dr. Naser M. Khan emphasizes the essential role of effective communication and teamwork in delivering high-quality endoscopic care. It outlines a comprehensive approach covering all stages in the endoscopy unit: scheduling, pre-procedure, intra-procedure, post-procedure, and follow-up.<br /><br />Key strategies include establishing standardized, easy scheduling processes with clear roles for physicians, staff, and nursing teams to ensure patients understand procedures, risks, and instructions well in advance. Daily huddles and debriefs allow staff feedback, promote involvement, and improve workflow.<br /><br />On the day of the procedure, smooth communication across pre-, intra-, and post-procedure areas is crucial. This includes daily case reviews, advance communication of special needs, use of digital communication tools like Vocera, safety checklists, and fostering a non-hierarchical environment where nurses and technicians feel empowered. Clear role definitions, composure, patient-centered interaction, and attentiveness to team feedback enhance patient safety and team efficiency.<br /><br />After procedures, timely delivery of results, patient communication, post-procedure orders, and follow-up calls improve patient satisfaction and unit throughput. Collecting patient feedback through surveys supports continuous improvement.<br /><br />Addressing workplace factors, the presentation highlights that workload and stress management, fostering collaboration, recognizing and supporting staff, and encouraging professional growth contribute to staff satisfaction, retention, and better patient outcomes. Formal mechanisms for monitoring stress, incorporating staff feedback, and recognizing exceptional performance (e.g., peer-nominated awards) are recommended.<br /><br />A constructive, supportive approach is advised for managing underperforming team members, with remediation plans and involvement of HR when needed.<br /><br />In summary, Dr. Khan advocates for "scopemanship" principles—leading by example, promoting collaboration over hierarchy, engaging staff and patients for feedback, and maintaining open communication to achieve a smooth, efficient endoscopy unit that benefits patients and healthcare teams alike.

Keywords

Effective communication

Teamwork in endoscopy

Scheduling processes

Patient safety

Digital communication tools

Staff engagement

Workload management

Patient feedback

Scopemanship principles

Healthcare team collaboration