Introduction
The abiliTy To communicaTe ideas effectively is increasingly recognized as critical to the suc- cess of the healthcare system. Effective communication is required not only for successful interactions between individuals and their health care providers (1) but also between health care providers themselves. Similarly, effective communication of ideas is a critical competency required by the researcher who plans to successfully share information with members of the public and/or to collaborate with researchers from other disciplines. This article will explore some of the unique characteristics of communication both with consumers and between health care professionals.