This book presents an international snapshot of communication in healthcare settings and examines how policies, procedures and technological developments influence day to day practice. Brings together a series of papers describing features of healthcare interaction in settings in Australasia, the U.S.A, continental Europe and the UK Contains original research data from previously under-studied settings including professions allied to medicine, telephone-mediated interactions and secondary care Contributors draw on the established conversation analytic literature on healthcare interaction and broaden its scope by applying it to professionals other than doctors in primary care Examines how issues relating to policy, procedure or technology are negotiated and managed throughout daily healthcare practice