Communication: The Critical Infrastructure for Oncology Care Teams

In the high-stakes environment of oncology, where multidisciplinary teams must navigate complex treatment protocols and emotional patient interactions, the "soft skill" of communication is often undervalued.

However, according to Deanna Lewis, DrPH, MBA, PA-C, who spoke with Oncology Nursing News at the OneOncology APP Symposium, communication should not be viewed as an optional interpersonal tool, but as the fundamental infrastructure of medical innovation.

Redefining innovation through connection

Lewis argues that the most profound innovations in healthcare do not always come from new drugs or technologies, but from the unique combination of existing elements — a process facilitated entirely by how clinicians interact. She compared this synergistic effect to common favorites: "It's just like peanut butter and chocolate is Reese's [or] an Arnold Palmer is iced tea and lemonade."

For oncology nurses and advanced practice providers (APPs), this perspective shifts the focus toward how collaborative partnerships can create a "whole nother level" of care.

Infrastructure vs. soft skills

A central theme of Lewis’s conversation was the need to stop categorizing communication as a "soft science" in contrast to the "hard sciences" of medicine. This categorization, she argues, creates an unnecessary separation that hinders the cohesion required in a clinical setting.

She emphasized that communication is "the first thing that we learn" developmentally and must be treated as the essential framework that supports all other medical activities.

Lessons from the fireline to the clinic

Lewis’ insights are rooted in her diverse professional background, including her time as a firefighter paramedic for the Tucson Fire Department. In that high-pressure field, she learned that the foundation of effective teamwork is trust, and that trust is built exclusively through clear communication.

"The first thing you learn about is teamwork, and you learn about trust, and the way we establish trust is through communication," she said. This trust is vital for oncology nursing teams who must rely on one another during critical patient interventions.

Creating psychological safety

Perhaps most relevant to the daily experience of oncology nurses is the role of communication in creating psychological safety. In a field where burnout is prevalent and the stakes of clinical errors are high, Lewis noted that a safe environment allows providers to be honest about their needs.

"It provides a space of psychological safety, and when we feel safe and when there's trust, that's when we can be vulnerable," Lewis said. "You can tell me what it is you need, I can tell you what it is I need."

By prioritizing this infrastructure, oncology teams can actively "alleviate things like frustration and fear," ensuring that the focus remains where it belongs: on the patient.