Miscommunication in healthcare may result in loss of life or permanent disability. As a result, maximizing the effectiveness of hospital communication is critical. Unfortunately, measuring leaders’ communication skill is problematic. Existing diagnostic approaches (i.e., performance appraisals, employee surveys, rounding, etc.) tend to be generic, misaligned, or untested.

In order to develop more systematic measures, one model of supervisor-subordinate interaction, Schuttler’s Law of Communication, was empirically tested in a hospital context. The measurement model demonstrated high reliability, providing strong evidence that it is possible to consistently measure leader communication. Highly significant correlations were also detected between supervisor communication, employee behavior, and organizational performance. The results support the conclusion that leader communication plays a strong role in the success of healthcare organizations.