Medical Assistant Prep / Unit 1 MAS 013 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Closed-Loop Communication
The idea
Closed-loop communication means the receiver repeats an instruction back, so the sender can confirm it was understood correctly.
In practice
Step one: the sender gives the instruction plainly, for example, "Please collect a throat swab for a rapid strep test on the patient in room two." Step two: the receiver repeats it back in full: "Throat swab, rapid strep, room two." Step three: the sender confirms that the repeat-back is right, or corrects it on the spot. Step four: the receiver carries out the task and reports when it is done, which closes the loop. The repeat-back lets the sender hear their own words reflected and lets the receiver check the action before taking it.
Where people slip
Use it every time an instruction is spoken rather than written, and especially in a busy moment. A misheard room number or test name is how the wrong test ends up on the wrong patient.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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