How Can You Improve Patient Experience in a Hospital

Updated on January 20, 2022

The world of medicine and healthcare, in general, is evolving rapidly. Scientists and doctors work on developing new treatment methods and researchers put a lot of effort into finding a cure for all sorts of previously incurable diseases. 

And, even though it may not seem so due to the COVID-19 pandemic that’s currently unfolding, modern medicine is one of the reasons why we are able to focus on things like new technologies and other life improvements.  

Still, even with all these benefits, there are some gaps that need our attention. For instance, one of the biggest concerns among healthcare workers is patients’ satisfaction with their experience in hospitals. Due to a lack of personnel and bureaucracy, hospitals often turn in places of anxiety and fears rather than locations where you go for healing. 

Therefore, as a hospital manager or even as a regular health care worker who is thinking about the well-being of the people that visit the hospital, it is important to implement a few methods to prevent infection within the hospital premises, also, the management can digitize the check-up process which will help to keep patients safe and satisfied with the services.

In this article, we will discuss some of these measures and how they helped hospitals become more efficient and shift their focus to people instead of forms and papers. 

Use an Automation System 

Nowadays, modern technologies are quickly taking over most industries and help various companies and organizations to improve their methods and become more productive. And the technology that brings in the most change is automation (combined with smart AI and ML algorithms). 

Therefore, the healthcare system also uses a wide range of automation platforms that can take over routine tasks such as checking patients in, processing the data, or collecting patient information. For instance, a case management software platform provides doctors and other medical personnel with easy and quick access to reliable patient information for a more accurate diagnostic based on each person’s health history. 

Keep Patients Informed

One of the most anxiety-inducing experiences in a hospital happens when the medical staff doesn’t properly communicate with the patient. This leaves room for misunderstandings and drives the quality of the interaction down. 

Therefore, to make sure people will have a positive experience, it’s important to provide them with information that is relevant to their treatment, their current situation, and more. Moreover, each person that comes in direct contact with patients (for procedures or other activities) has to offer clear and detailed information throughout the interaction. 

Another positive aspect of sharing information with the patients is that they will feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and issues with the healthcare personnel. This way, you will be able to learn more about their specific condition and overall environment, which can be extremely helpful for a correct diagnosis and treatment.

Be Friendly & Empathetic

A warm smile goes a long way and encourages empathy, which is something every patient needs. While most humans are capable of empathy, overworked healthcare workers often forget to smile or even look the patient in the eyes. However, this creates a hostile atmosphere and only increases anxiety levels. 

So, it’s important to remember that, regardless of your fatigue (physical and mental), it crucial to maintain a friendly demeanor in communication with patients. Otherwise, you risk making the experience uncomfortable and stress-inducing, which won’t help with patient satisfaction.

Wrap Up

While IT services impact the healthcare sector in a good way, we still need full participation from the human factor to improve services in hospitals. Face-to-face friendly communication helps establish trust between patients and healthcare personnel, which is mandatory for a good relationship and a positive experience. 

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Throughout the year, our writers feature fresh, in-depth, and relevant information for our audience of 40,000+ healthcare leaders and professionals. As a healthcare business publication, we cover and cherish our relationship with the entire health care industry including administrators, nurses, physicians, physical therapists, pharmacists, and more. We cover a broad spectrum from hospitals to medical offices to outpatient services to eye surgery centers to university settings. We focus on rehabilitation, nursing homes, home care, hospice as well as men’s health, women’s heath, and pediatrics.