Caring for your patient isn’t just about providing proper treatment; it’s also about making them comfortable and confident in the process. Use these tips for improving patient care at your practice to increase their satisfaction and their trust in your facility.
Communication
Important client information can slip through the cracks if you don’t keep a detailed log of your phone calls. Nurses should record every phone call in a logbook so that they can easily track and recall patient information and appointment scheduling.
Another helpful phone tip is to contact patients 48 hours before their appointments to remind them. This reminder should cut down on missed appointments, and this way, if they can’t make it, you can schedule acute care patients in their place.
You can also improve communication and collaboration in your healthcare practice using walkie-talkies. That way, nurses and doctors can call for immediate assistance when necessary instead of searching all over the office for the person they need.
Patient Knowledge
It’s best to keep your patients up to date on their care. Seeking medical care can be scary for many patients, but you can put them at ease by ensuring they are knowledgeable about their ailment and treatment. Take the time to explain to them with graphs, diagrams, or any necessary research so that they can understand what’s happening. Patients can better commit to their treatment if they comprehend its importance.
Bi-Lingual Staff
The second most spoken language (other than English) in both Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania is Spanish. To tackle this language barrier, many practices have prioritized hiring a few bi-lingual nurses and doctors to assist patients better. With bilingual staff, you might even see an increase in patients.
Non-Traditional Scheduling/Hours
One of the biggest patient complaints is that they struggle to make appointments when they need them with their preferred physician. Doctors will pack their schedule with chronic patients, leaving little time for patients who need day-of-care.
To address this issue, doctors should allot time in their schedules for unplanned appointments. If you fill up the first half of the day with chronic patients, you can sparsely schedule the back half to give yourself free time to see day-of-patients or catch up on your notes.
Also, because many patients’ employers require strict and long work hours, they may not be able to make it during your traditional hours. Many practices have addressed this problem by keeping the practice open a few nights a week until 8 or 9 p.m. Patients will appreciate this accommodation, and while it might mean a late night for the staff, you can reward them with an extra day off.
With these tips for improving patient care at your practice, hopefully, you will see a return in their confidence and commitment to their treatment.