The University Health Services (UHS) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi has concluded a four-week training seminar on effective patient-centered communication, aimed at improving service delivery and enhancing patient experience.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr. Bhavana Singh, Chairperson of the Quality Assurance Sub-Committee at UHS, said the programme was designed to strengthen communication, enhance patient experience, and promote safety and compassionate care within the facility.

She said actionable intelligence gathered from both staff and clients informed the design of the intervention.

“Insights from these surveys informed the design of this next level of measurable intervention, leading to the planning and implementation of this training,” she stated.

Dr. Singh noted that the initiative forms part of a broader quality improvement agenda, adding that UHS is already preparing its next milestone for 2027 as part of a sustained effort toward excellence in service delivery.

Director of University Health Services, Dr. Nana Kwame Ofori Ayisi-Boateng, urged staff to reflect on their professional conduct and communication practices beyond the ceremony.

“We are not just looking at our communication with our patients, but we are looking at communication at colleague levels. Communication between management and staff,” he said.

He announced plans to display patients’ rights and responsibilities, as well as those of staff, at various points within the facility and across UHS digital platforms to promote mutual respect and accountability.

Dr. Irene Ohene Manu, a Medical Officer, outlined measures to sustain the gains made, saying the quality assurance team has developed strategies to reinforce key messages visually within the hospital environment.

She encouraged participants to model best practices for others to emulate.

“Each and every person here is a communication champion, and we want all of us to go to our various units and be examples to the others,” she said.

Dr. Manu added that additional training sessions, including virtual engagements, would be organised throughout the year to enable more staff and management members to benefit from the programme.

“Sustaining this as a culture is not for management alone. It’s for all of us; it is our responsibility,” she said.