IntroductionTo understand why interpersonal communication is important for health, it is important to understand what interpersonal communication is and how to communicate effectively. Merriam-Webster defines interpersonal relationships as “relating to or involving relationships between people; existing or occurring between people. Communication is defined as “the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone” . When combined, interpersonal communication becomes the use of words, sounds, signs, and/or behaviors exchanged between two or more people to share information, ideas, thoughts, and feelings. In healthcare, interpersonal communication can take place between a healthcare professional and a patient, or between a group of healthcare professionals and other healthcare personnel. Communication in this area is very important and faces many obstacles. Decision making requires effective interpersonal communication in healthcare organizations to increase efficiency and effectiveness, as well as quality of care. Effective CommunicationEffective communication is imperative for success in healthcare. Patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and overall health outcomes have been proven to improve when the healthcare team and patient communicate well. A patient who understands the information given to them and feels that their health care providers care about their well-being is more likely to be satisfied with the care they receive and to comply with their treatment regimen. This is possible by engaging in a decision-making process that does not involve...paper......reducing risk. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/final-reports/pscongrpt/psini2.html Institute for Healthcare Communication. July 2011. Impact of communication in healthcare. Retrieved from http://healthcarecomm.org/about-us/impact-of-communication-in-healthcare/Janasz, Suzanne C., PhD; Karen Dowd, Ph.D.; Beth Schneider, MBA. Interpersonal skills in organizations.4th edition. New York, New York. 2012. Merriam-Webster. 2014. Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/Schyve, Paul M., MD. October 24, 2007. Language differences pose a barrier to the quality and safety of health care. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2078554/USAID. Quality Assurance Methodology Development Series: Improving interpersonal communication between healthcare providers and clients. Retrieved from http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/pnace294.pdf