Medical science has progressed by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Recent studies and technological advancements have brought forward new healthcare practices.
However, with the rise in the spread of diseases, people attempt to be mindful and take necessary steps to promote health. An increasing number of people suffer from fluctuations in blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels and need to consult physicians frequently.
Moreover, the outbreak of COVID-19 compelled people to take care of their health seriously. The new healthcare practices help healthcare workers to cater to patients’ illnesses and provide better treatments.
When a person falls ill, he or she affects the whole family. However, each family member has to play their part to help the patient recover and regain health. Family-centered health is an approach that involves planning and delivering healthcare services. It is worth mentioning that patients, their families, and medical workers are the major participants in family-centered healthcare, which is being protected by family law. For instance, special care patients are primarily dependent on the family. Each member can positively contribute to improving the patient’s health.
For some people, the concept of family-centered care is still new, and most of them not follow it much. Below we are listing some reasons behind family-centered health promotion:
- Improved Decision-Making for Healthcare Services
Patients such as those with special needs are sensitive, and they unexpectedly get into some serious situations. Physicians are not available all the time, and family members have to intervene and make critical decisions. The family-centered approach enables family members who share space with patients to barge in and help patients cope with a sudden health crisis.
Medical institutes are venturing into e-education and offering online courses for non-medical and healthcare workers to get insight into different medical industry fields. An online MPH promotes health equity and helps in creating healthier communities. Individuals with differently-abled patients or those aiming to build a healthy community can take advantage of online programs and equip themselves with the skills.
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Even the best medical practices encounter “down” days. Fortunately, there many ways you can improve your care, as well as serve more patients in the long run.
Even the best medical practices encounter “down” days. On most days, many practices are constantly overbooked or understaffed (or both). Whether you run a small clinic or manage several, you’re no stranger to seeing full waiting rooms receiving an endless influx of patients, especially now in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. It may have reached a point where it feels impossible for your physicians and support staff to meet the demand.
Surprisingly, staff numbers aren’t the primary culprit. It’s inefficient workflows, which cause unnecessary administrative burdens, that waste the time of patients and doctors. As a result, tasks fall behind their deadlines, staff performance suffers, and the quality of patient care drops.
You can improve your practice management service in numerous ways. The following strategies can help you minimize time-wasting tasks, improve operations, and ultimately give you more time to focus on your patients.
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By Gary Anderson, a Los Angeles-based freelance writer.
When you “Google” your practice’s name, are you satisfied with the reviews that pop up? If not, chances are that your main issue has nothing to do with the patient care you give and everything to do with the patient service you provide.
You know the saying, “The customer is always right?” Patients especially feel that way. So, if you fail to give them the top-level treatment they seek when they’re feeling the most vulnerable, your reputation will suffer. And let’s face it: In the healthcare industry, your reputation is everything.
Here’s a list of seven great ways to enhance patient experience at your practice.
Focus More on Purpose
Make sure that your staff thinks more about why they are there, not just what they are doing. This is where proper training and management come into play. If each employee understands his or her unique purpose at your practice and sees it as important, this will have a positive impact on the patient service you provide.
See Your Practice through the Patient’s Lens
Take the necessary steps to experience what your patient does at your practice. For instance, park exactly where the patient does. Is it easy to reach your building’s front door, even for someone on crutches? And when you enter the reception area, do you automatically receive a warm greeting or a cold shoulder? Patients have already made up their minds about your practice before they even get to the exam rooms. So, be sure that what patients experience in the front of the office is just as favorable as what they’ll experience in the back.
Teach Employees How to Address Patient Complaints
Every one of your employees should know how to handle patients’ concerns or complaints effectively. For instance, your employee shouldn’t be quick to tell a patient “I don’t know how to help you.” Instead, he or she should eagerly say “I will find you somebody who can help you ASAP.” Then, the employee should follow through on what he or she has promised. This will make a huge difference in how the patient perceives your practice.
Get Comfortable with Saying “Sorry”
“Sorry” can be one of the hardest words to say. Nonetheless, it is a word that every employee in your office should learn. Your employees need to become comfortable with apologizing for any service lapses that a patient points out, rather than being apathetic or defensive. Using training devices such as role-playing can help to make “sorry” a more natural part of your patient’s language when appropriate.
Focus on Being Blame Free
Realize that if an issue crops up in your practice, your employee is not necessarily always to blame. Sure, if it occurs once, the employee might be at fault. But if the mistake happens twice, your system might be at fault. So, investigate the system, and fix any glitches you see. Your employee will be happier, and this translates to happier patients and ultimately a happier you.
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