Communication Challenges in High-Containment Clinical Environments

Abstract

The authors describe the personal protective equipment (PPE) clinicians require when involved in the care of patients with potential or confirmed exposure to highly infectious pathogens, such as the Ebola virus, multidrug-resistant organisms, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the cause of COVID-19. They discuss the communication challenges that arise with the various PPE required when caring for patients in high-containment clinical environments and how they and their colleagues in the National Institutes of Health's Special Clinical Studies Unit developed, field-tested, refined, and ultimately implemented policies and procedures that enabled clinicians to communicate effectively with other staff, patients, and external partners, such as governmental agencies, other specialized units, and nonprofit organizations.

In Brief

The authors discuss the communication challenges that arise with the wearing of personal protective equipment and describe strategies they and their colleagues in the National Institutes of Health's Special Clinical Studies Unit used to improve communication with other staff, patients, and external partners.