The healthcare sector has made it a top goal to deliver patient care that can satisfy anyone who enters the hospital doors. Before the pandemic, there was a focus on enhancing the patient experience, but the growing movement toward holistic care has increased the focus on the unique patient experience. The goal is to create a long-term plan that enhances the value of the patient and healthcare provider experience. However, the focus is mostly on the patient regarding healthcare practitioners. Here are a few pieces of advice to help you enhance patient care and gain their trust as healthcare practitioners.
1. Create a helpful online presence
One of the ways the pandemic has reshaped the healthcare system is by promoting telehealth and virtual healthcare assistance. It has led to a massive influx of information readily available on the internet. Still, not all of them are correct and relevant. For this reason, the healthcare industry is more intent on providing accurate information and online healthcare services available to every existing and potential patient.
By using this strategy, healthcare providers are approaching their employment differently and revolutionizing how people access healthcare. For example, more nurses are opting to pursue online masters of science in nursing to improve their career prospects. The latest technological tools have enabled them to participate in interactive online learning. They can acquire an advanced degree in nursing while continuing their practice in clinics. Moreover, the latest medical programs and specializations also train healthcare providers to adapt their knowledge to the current technology and treat their patients accordingly.
2. Implement an online appointment system
Many patients may feel comfortable scheduling their appointment on the telephone. But there is still an increasing demand for an online appointment system that healthcare providers need to address. The reason is that not everyone has the means or capability to book an appointment through a call. For example, the patient may experience social anxiety, have a mental health condition, be unable to speak, or be out of the region. In such instances, scheduling an appointment on the phone can become grueling and bothersome. That is why we suggest you set up an online appointment system using the various software and tools available online.
Doing so will set up the appointment immediately, provide you with the necessary patient information, and make an automatic patient log. You can also use these tools to send emails and reminder alerts to your employees and patients. As a result, you will notice that there are far fewer canceled appointments, and your staff has access to correct information at all times.
3. Minimize waiting time and elevate the waiting experience
The waiting period is one of the reasons why most people consider going to the doctor a hassle and treat it like a burden. Healthcare services naturally require a lot of time, and you can’t accommodate so many patients at once. But enhancing the waiting experience will also benefit you and the patient.
You can take some measures to improve the waiting time for walk-in patients. For example, digitize the form-taking process to reduce the hassle of paperwork. You can also set up interactive tablets or a self-service station where the patients can walk in and fill out their information.
Another step you can take is to send the patient text messages on their phone number to inform them of their queue number. It will ensure that all patients with a longer waiting time can fill their time gap with something more productive or relaxing, knowing when their turn will come.
In addition to that, you can also redecorate the waiting area to make it more pleasant. For example, add a TV where you can play entertainment content or relaxing music. Put up some plants, and set up a bookshelf displaying a wide variety of magazines and books your patients can browse through while waiting for their turn.
4. Stay in touch with patients to build a long-term relationship
Your medical assistance may have a lasting effect. If you take the time to offer consistent check-ins and follow-up services, you will clearly care about the patient’s well-being. Providing quality healthcare services is not just about alleviating your patients’ problems. But developing a long-term relationship with them increases patient loyalty and improves the healthcare experience.
Some steps that can help you include asking the patient to answer a survey form and acquiring feedback. Their feedback will help you determine which services and employees are in demand and how you can improve the overall healthcare services. Also, asking patients for feedback will make them feel heard and realize their ideas are valued.
5. Show empathy and care
Empathy is the most crucial aspect of healthcare services as this is the factor that is guaranteed to improve the patient experience. Therefore, make your patient feel important by interacting with them directly and clearly, and make an effort to establish a relationship with them. Maintain an air of friendliness and empathy to ensure your patient feels comfortable with you. If your patient feels comfortable talking and sharing with you, you have succeeded as a healthcare provider. The reason is that effective two-way communication between the patient and healthcare provider ensures that patients provide crucial and accurate information. And they trust your judgment when making crucial healthcare decisions.
Conclusion
For good reasons, improving the overall patient experience has become a priority in the healthcare industry. This approach doesn’t only benefit the industry from a business approach but also ensures that there is a humane connection between healthcare workers and their patients. Hence, shifting the mindset and your service strategies to make them more patient friendly will ensure you win over every patient’s heart.
