Do You Hear What I Hear?

Effective communication is a cornerstone of perioperative care. As perioperative teams become more diverse, the cultural and generational differences that can influence effective communication and team performance must be acknowledged. Cultural and generational barriers to communication exist when the perioperative team lacks knowledge, competency, awareness, and skills to address these differences. Incorporating education, simulation, novel technologies, standardization of communication, and a culture of safety can strengthen the diverse perioperative team’s ability to communicate effectively.