In any healthcare organization, you are defined by the quality of services that you provide and the outcomes that your consumers have. No matter the type of healthcare organization, there are certain essential practices that you should always strive to deliver. By ensuring that your patients receive the best possible care, you can improve their overall health and well-being, which leads to POSITIVE patient healthcare outcomes.
While there are several practices that we can discuss for days, let's explore 3 essential practices that can not only drastically improve patient experiences but can also impact my favorite....... HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES!
1. Rapid Access/Open Access
Who doesn't want fast, easy, open access to healthcare services all hours of the day? The answer is NO ONE! The reality is we live in a fast-paced, I need an answer right now and with the continued growing field of technology, we have to realize that this need from our consumers is not going anywhere. So while healthcare organizations are definitely bombarded with actually seeing patients on a daily basis, the need to address patient questions, concerns, and needs that seek services from the organization can be supplemented. A great way to do this is to implement technology into your organization. Some forms of technology can be a digital "Ask A Provider" line, medical minute tips that are displayed utilizing some form of digital capabilities, and social media. The list can go on & on, but the point is, using technology allows for rapid/open access between the healthcare consumer and the healthcare organization.
2. Safe Care
The COVID-19 crisis has magnified the healthcare system's crucial role in ensuring patient safety on all fronts. Without a doubt, the hospital is the best place to receive treatment for any health condition, which is why providing high-standard quality healthcare is a must for these institutions. But, on the other hand, hospitals can be a high-risk place for patient harm if there is neglect. This makes it of paramount importance to properly train and educate medical professionals on a consistent basis on policies and procedures the organization has implemented to ensure a safe environment for all. From sanitation practices and medical record-keeping to medication administration and patient diagnosis, getting these things right is part of patient safety and improves patient healthcare outcomes.
3. Patient Experience
Patient Experience is everything! From the interactions with providers, nurses, patient representatives, chaplains, interpreters, volunteers, and other staff, the facilitation of effective and impactful communication between patient and healthcare personnel define the overall experience. Ensure that your facility values the highest quality of patient care and strives to provide a safe, effective, and meaningful healthcare environment. Aim to provide competent and responsive healthcare services to achieve the highest satisfaction from our patients and visitors.
Achieving outcomes is important, but the process of achieving them is equally important. Health systems measure outcomes to ensure they deliver the best care for patients and provide a transparent, efficient, and accessible environment for all healthcare providers. Healthcare organizations should identify their essential patient health outcomes and ensure they deliver on them to drive effective care.
Have you identified areas of opportunity where your organization can implement essential patient practices? Would you like assistance from our team of experts with this process? Let us know here!