Improving patient experience in hospitals is a major ambition of medical organizations around the world. The United States’s Insitutue of Medicine recently suggested that high-quality delivery systems must be safe, patient-centered, and efficient. Hospitals cannot afford to overlook the essence of improving patient experiences in their facilities, as it’s vital for medical business success. One report highlighted the pivotal roles advanced healthcare systems and patient feedback play in transforming medical operations. Improving patient experiences goes beyond rendering extraordinary physical treatment services. It also requires staff to prioritize every aspect of the healthcare delivery journey, including understanding patients’ emotional needs.
4 Ways to Improve Patient Experience in a Hospital
Are you wondering how to improve patient experience in your hospital? Studies show that patients who don’t get satisfactory experiences from healthcare providers are more likely to avoid visiting a medical center or recommend it to others. Unfortunately, this can hurt growth and negatively impact long-term medical outcomes. So, consider applying these strategies to transform patient experiences in your medical facility.
Show Empathy and Compassion
About 64% of American adults surveyed by the Harris Poll in 2023 admitted that they wanted hospital staff to spend more time with them. 49% reported not being listened to enough in healthcare centers, while others lamented how medical staff rushed them during appointments. One strategy to address this negative patient experience is to encourage your medical team to demonstrate empathy and compassion for patients. This can be difficult in a busy environment when doctors or nurses feel pressured to move on to the next patient quickly. It could be beneficial to hire a virtual medical administrative assistant who can take some of the stress away from your in-person staff by dealing with paperwork or administrative tasks. This gives them more time to connect with patients. Showing clients that you care for and understand their medical conditions can greatly enhance their satisfaction with your services. Healthcare providers must learn to recognize each patient’s emotions and make thoughtful and patient-centered decisions to improve their experiences.
Leverage Cutting-Edge Patient Engagement Software Solutions
Investing in robust and innovative patient engagement software solutions from expert developers like Empeek is a smart way to enable your practice to boost clients’ experience and optimize treatment procedures. Patient engagement software solutions comprise various systems, technologies, and tools to foster doctor-patient communications and provide seamless access to health information. Leveraging these services will also make it easier for patients to actively manage their health. Examples of crucial elements that patient engagement solutions provide are telehealth, reminders for appointments, informative resources, and medication adherence tools.
Minimize paperwork
Another way to improve patient experience at your medical practice is to reduce paperwork and use online systems instead. You can reduce stress by ensuring that patients don’t have to provide information repeatedly before an appointment. One technique to minimize paperwork is to have patients upload their documents online rather than filing multiple forms in the waiting room. You can also utilize tailored care management software to reduce the paperwork in your business. It’s worth noting the benefits of such software, like ShiftCare vs Emprevo to find one that is best suited to your business needs.
Build a Clean and Comfy Environment
Designing a clean and comfortable hospital environment can also positively impact patient experiences at your practice. Organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi can encourage transmission of diseases due to poor hygiene conditions in your facility. You can make your hospital safer by maintaining a clean and comfy environment in waiting rooms, labs, and physician offices. It’s worth noting that extreme noise levels and uncomfortable seating can cause inconvenience for patients.
Using innovative ways to improve patient experience is a powerful strategy to modernize your medical business. A centralized electronic system can streamline staff-patient communication and eliminate the need for time-consuming paper forms. If you have challenges with poor patient experiences at your hospital, consider consulting Empeek to create a custom patient engagement software solution to provide interactive experiences.