Electronic Health Reporter

Technology has improved the patient-doctor relationship dramatically since healthcare organizations have embraced its versatility and effectiveness. But, while technology is an effective method for improving the patient’s healthcare experience, it is not the only area for healthcare providers to consider. 

One considerable option that benefits patient health and overall care is collaboration both within the institution and from external resources and business. If you want to provide the best care for your patients, consider these six reasons to encourage more collaboration. 

Improved Care

Unique perspectives are important in many parts of life, but they become even more crucial in the medical industry. Although everyone who sees a patient has qualifications, their experiences could mean they recognize treatment options or conditions that others could miss, creating a severe risk of misdiagnosis.

Multiple healthcare providers working with a patient guarantee the best possible care. They have different skills that can help them get back to full health, and it also reduces the risk of burnout, which could affect their focus. You can also consider different hospitals, especially if your institution does not have the required equipment to provide treatment. A strong working relationship with nearby resources could help save a life. 

Cut Down On Mistakes 

Medical mistakes have been reported to contribute to one-third of patient deaths, although this number has been disputed over the past few years. Even so, any patient death caused by malpractice is too many, so working in a collaborative environment reduces errors and accidents and ensures the patient receives the correct treatment. 

By providing the right treatment every time, hospitals can discharge the patient quicker without the risk of complications. This frees up more beds in emergency rooms and ICUs so patients can get the answers they need when they require them. 

Faster Treatment 

The previous point immediately leads to the next. By keeping a steady stream of patients coming and going (and providing suitable treatment) you can provide almost immediate care for other patients. 

Working with other healthcare providers can enhance this even more. Rather than have patients stuck in a waiting room for hours, multiple providers can split the waiting room in half, thirds, or quarters. This enables more patients to be seen and examined in the same amount of time it would take one doctor or nurse to treat a single patient. 

Lower Costs 

Recent reports have highlighted that 30% of Americans avoided treatment in the final quarter of 2021 because they could not afford the healthcare costs. This is an alarming statistic no matter how you look at it, so collaborative healthcare is something that could change this. 

Collaboration allows patients to reduce their time spent in the hospital as they do not need to wait for a specific physician to be free. Instead, a team of experts can work fluidly between patients and discharge them faster, thereby cutting the cost of their stay at the hospital and enabling them to get back to work quickly, so they don’t miss out on hours or consume unpaid holidays. 

Boost Teamwork 

Encouraging collaboration within the hospital can lead to better communication which means everyone will know more about each patient. Teamwork is essential in any workplace, but one could argue that it is most essential in healthcare settings. Because of this, the institution just put systems in place that allow detailed patient records and are easy to share between different employees regardless of who is working the current shift. 

Improved teamwork also increases job satisfaction, which again reduces the risk of burnout as it does not require a single provider to do all the heavy lifting. This, in turn, improves employee retention so that patients can build a rapport with their caregivers.  

Expert Advice 

Expert advice is always appreciated in healthcare, so working with a healthcare-adjacent midwest research organization can help your team identify better ways to provide exceptional care in your hospital or clinic. 

As many hospitals do not have the budget for intensive independent study, working with an external resource can be hugely beneficial for improving how things work and increasing efficiency. With this, your patients can look forward to better overall care to maintain their health, whether their issues are minor or major. 

Stronger Together 

People are always stronger when working together. When you consider something as crucial as healthcare, it makes sense to look at how you can work out collaboration opportunities at both local and national resources. Whether you run a healthcare business or are on the floor assisting patients every day, these tips should always be considered when looking to improve the patient experience.