Your patients have direct and indirect needs and desires that impact their outcomes. Improving patient care should be a priority with the overall goal of achieving a high degree of patient satisfaction.
In this blog, we will discuss 4 key ways hospitals can improve the quality of patient care.
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4 Key Ways That Hospitals Can Improve Patient Care
It’s common knowledge that patient care encounters challenges that extend beyond the realm of clinical expertise and medical interventions.
Whether due to communication gaps or administrative complexities, there are often instances where the patient experience may fall short of the optimal standard. Considering the fact that medical bills can be huge, it becomes imperative to address lackluster patient care.
While hospitals are aware of the dangers of substandard patient care, they don’t always put in the effort needed to address the situation. Until they do, it is our collective responsibility to raise awareness and highlight core issues in patient care. In this article, let’s look at four ways it can be improved.
1. Ensure Patients Understand What’s Happening
One of the biggest factors behind patients filing medical malpractice lawsuits is poor communication. Informed consent helps, but it only protects the institution legally.
Healthcare workers are often overworked, and it’s not uncommon to see informed consent reduced to the mere signing of documents. Doctors can grow tired of patients who seem to have hundreds of questions. They might start to gloss over some aspects they feel would create more questions for no reason.
This can create problems in the long run. Just look at the Bard PowerPort lawsuit situation. Several patients are suing hospitals because of injuries they suffered as a result of the faulty catheters. Sure, the hospital’s stance might be that this wasn’t in their control, but that isn’t an excuse.
Hospitals have to keep tabs on what’s happening in their industry. It’s been no secret that Bard PowerPort has been in the news for some time now with reports of catheters that break. According to TorHoerman Law, this has led to several injuries, like deep vein thrombosis and necrosis, at the implant site.
One way that hospitals can boost patient care is by communicating clearly about the potential risks and alternatives available. This is the default way it has to be, but implementation is not always uniform across the country.
2. Focus on New and Innovative Technology
Technology makes our lives easier, and this is very much the case in hospitals and patient care as well. An obvious way would be telemedicine. With the use of video conferencing and remote monitoring tools, patients can now consult doctors and nurses from home.
This not only reduces the burden on hospital resources but also enhances accessibility to medical expertise, particularly in rural or underserved areas. Likewise, mobile applications and wearable devices allow patients to become more proactive in their healthcare journey. It allows them to track vital signs, monitor chronic conditions, and receive personalized health recommendations.
Such involvement not only fosters a sense of responsibility but also gives healthcare providers the opportunity to intervene during emergencies away from hospitals. For healthcare workers, modern EHR systems can be one of the best tools to exist.
They drastically streamline patient information management, which directly leads to a better experience for hospital visitors.
3. Invest in Staff Training for Core Skills + Empathy
A well-trained and knowledgeable healthcare workforce is not only pivotal for the professional growth of individuals but is equally indispensable for elevating the standard of patient care.
Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and support staff, need to stay abreast of the latest medical advancements, treatment protocols, and best practices. Regular training programs provide a structured avenue for updating their skills and knowledge, ensuring that they are equipped to deliver high-quality care in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
Online learning platforms and simulations offer healthcare professionals the means to access educational resources in a flexible manner. This not only enhances the efficiency of training but also ensures that healthcare professionals are well-prepared to address the complexities of patient care.
Healthcare workers encounter so many situations where they need to convey bad news that they turn to ChatGPT to frame things in a compassionate way. It raises questions that ChatGPT’s responses were rated seven times more empathetic than those of doctors, according to the University of California.
Training programs that focus on communication skills and ethical considerations are also going to be critical if the hospital wants to build strong relationships with patients.
4. Streamline Administrative Processes to Reduce Wait Times
One of the key elements in optimizing patient care is the simplification of administrative processes. By leveraging technology, healthcare institutions can automate routine tasks such as appointment scheduling, billing, and record-keeping.
This reduces the administrative burden that hospitals deal with and reduces errors that may occur in manual processes.
Appointment scheduling, in particular, plays a crucial role in patient satisfaction. Long wait times for appointments can lead to frustration and may deter patients from seeking timely medical attention.
This problem is not just seen in busy urban cities but also in rural areas. Owen Foster, a man from rural Vermont, stated that it took him six months to book an appointment with a doctor. In his search for healthcare, he contacted eight institutions but was simply met with indefinite wait lists.
Implementing efficient scheduling systems, aided by online platforms and reminder systems, helps manage patient flow effectively. This ensures that patients receive timely care, reducing the likelihood of conditions worsening due to delayed medical attention.
Likewise, the reduction of administrative complexities contributes to a more patient-centric approach. Simplifying paperwork, billing procedures, and insurance processes alleviates the stress and confusion often associated with navigating the administrative aspects of healthcare.
Patients are more likely to engage proactively in their care when administrative barriers are minimized, fostering a positive and collaborative relationship between healthcare providers and patients.
Conclusion
While the strategies discussed above provide a solid framework for enhancement, they also beckon a more profound reflection on the very essence of the patient-provider relationship.
Empathy is a tough skill to develop and maintain in an environment where pain and suffering happen all the time.
Expecting healthcare workers to be superheroes is also unrealistic and unfair. Even the CDC notes that burnout among healthcare workers is reaching a crisis state. It’s clear that expecting constant empathy and perfect communication 24/7 is nigh impossible.
That said, those areas that have the potential to create massive problems for both patients and the hospital do require some addressing.