The goal of every medical facility is to provide the best care to its patients. Many facilities succeed in achieving this goal and getting good ratings for their services. However, not all hospitals and clinics attain the reputation of good service providers. But if a hospital cannot provide an above-par service, the goal should be to at least meet care standards adhered to by the competitors.
The world is moving towards more patient-centric care where patients are involved in making decisions. Their individuality and input are considered integral to improving the overall care experience in any care facility. Patients prefer facilities that reduce their readmission for a medical issue repeatedly. Therefore, patients’ perception of a care facility such as a hospital is heavily tied to their experience with various healthcare professionals. It is imperative that they be provided with patient-centric care by hospitals, with lesser emphasis on quantity than quantity. It is the responsibility of all hospital management to ensure a better patient experience as other businesses do. Here is how the hospital can provide better care to their patients.
- Hire professionals who can promote the business case of a hospital
The main job of a hospital is to provide healthcare services, but at the same time, they must think like a business too. After all, they have to attract new patients to keep afloat as profitable entities and provide better patient care services. Hence, all hospitals need personnel who understand the business side of running a hospital. One way to ensure this is to have individuals with business education along with a healthcare degree. In this regard, many educational institutions have presented a better solution in the form of a healthcare MBA degree. Medical professionals enrolled in an on-campus or online healthcare MBA program can be from any background. They could be doctors, administrators, nurses, or from the top management— business education is helpful for all of them. Business acumen helps you understand the importance of customer service and the benefits of having satisfied customers associated with your business.
- Excel at service provision
Better service is one of the factors that can differentiate your hospital from the others. Even if it seems obvious, this one idea needs reiteration at all times. Excellent service improves the number of happy patients, and just like other businesses, happy customers can spread positive word of mouth. Ensuring the quality of care is the responsibility of hospital management. To do so, they must have regular meetings and discussions with their staff, including doctors, nurses, technicians, pharmacists, lab assistants, etc. Medical professionals in the hospital must have access to the right tools and resources to maintain the standard of care. Moreover, having the right education and skills is also imperative. Having sufficient knowledge and skills implies that care providers have the latest information and training related to their work area.
- Use the latest equipment
The use of equipment can impact the patient care provided in a hospital. The staff needs to regularly check all equipment used in various hospital departments to ensure they are not damaged or malfunctioning. Damaged surgical equipment can carry germs and, when used on the patients, can cause irreparable damage to the patient and the hospital. All the equipment must be sterilized and kept clean at all times.
Moreover, the hospital must have a backup plan if there is a need for some tools in an emergency. The inventory should have enough supplies to ensure the smooth running of hospital operations.
- Enhance the comfort of your patients
Patients come to the hospital in a vulnerable situation. They want all the comfort they can get in their state of grave uncertainty. Hospitals excelling at increasing the comfort of their patients can beat their competitors by a significant margin. Patient satisfaction also leads to more referrals. Ways to improve your patients’ comfort include having soft beds, clean bed linens and blankets, and having comfy chairs in the rooms and waiting area. A clean and hygienic facility also increases patient satisfaction. Ensure that washrooms are kept clean and that patients have access to necessary toiletries such as soaps, hand sanitizers, etc.
- Have patient-friendly staff
Friendly and compassionate staff in the hospital can immensely improve thecomfort and satisfaction of your patients. When the staff treats your patients cordially, your patients will probably like your facility. Staff shouldreceive proper training on how to behave with patients. Moreover, you can develop a reward system for staff who behave in a friendly and compassionate manner with the patients. Some ways to be friendly with your patients include helping them find their way and providing clear guidelines about admission, payment, and discharge procedure.
- Procure state-of-the-art technology
Healthcare workers often do not have enough time to think a lot before making a decision. Therefore, there is more risk of error when tasks are performed manually. The presence of technology and digital devices for performing repetitive tasks can help professionals work under pressure situations. The availability of specialized tools for diagnosis and record-keeping can reduce human errors to a large extent. False diagnoses based on wrong disorganized information are ineffective and detrimental to the hospital’s reputation. An increased rate of errors also increasesthe patient mortality rate.
On the contrary, having the right equipment for your facility and anticipating future needs can bring prestige andrecognition to your hospital. The end result is improved patient care anda better satisfaction level.
- Have a follow-up plan in place
A hospital’s involvement in the patient’s life must not end when a patient leaves the facility. To eliminate the chances of reoccurrence of an ailment, hospitals must have follow-up plans for their patients. In some cases,patients must be part of rehabilitation programs and therapies even after completing the primary treatment. Therefore, hospitals should develop a healthy relationship with their patients and have follow-up meetings until they are sure of their patient’s full recovery. Hospitals can send reminders to their patients about their appointment through phone or email.
Conclusion
Hospitals are responsible for providing the best care to their patients. In many cases, improving your standard of care does not require big changes. Things like friendly and compassionate staff, a responsive administration, and a clean facility can often be sufficient to ensure quality services and satisfied patients.
