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Improving Patient Satisfaction in Hospitals

Feb 16, 2016 | Patient Satisfaction

Higher satisfaction scores, happier staff and a healthier community. All results of focusing on improving patient satisfaction. Patients who are satisfied with their care and treatment plans feel in control of their own health situation. A happy and informed patient is more likely to follow the care plan and recover quicker.
Is improving patient satisfaction on your hospital’s to do list? Here are 5 ways to start now.

 

1. Interactive Care

As the world constantly provides us with interactive systems in our daily lives we expect the same interaction during a hospital stay. We want easy ways to stay in touch with our friends and family and want short communication lines with our physician.

Installing interactive patient systems can be a great first step to improve patient satisfaction. They provide patients with bedside entertainment, communication and patient education. Patients can quickly contact their doctor and access information about their care, treatment and medication.

Bedside patient education is also part of interactive care. Patients can look up quality educational material fitting to their needs and situation. According to Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers, offering education options boosts patient satisfaction levels by 42%. It’s a great feeling to know what’s going on and to fully understand your medical situation.

 

2. Make a Good First Impression

The registration desk is usually the first point of contact for new patients. A good first impression at this point is crucial for the overall experience and satisfaction of patients. Review the clinical workflow and patient flow through the hospital, ensuring wait times are as minimal as possible.

Keep registration simple and transparent so patients understand what is asked of them. Customer service improvements also go a long way when it comes to improving patient satisfaction levels.

Clear signs of where to go, personal touches along the way and staff to assist when needed will help keep nerves down. Healthcare technology solutions can benefit hospitals in reducing wait times and increasing efficiency.

 

3. Valued Time of Patients

Patients’ time is valuable. They appreciate the amount of customer service they experience in restaurants, stores and banks and expect no less from their healthcare provider. They don’t want to wait around while someone is trying to access the information they need.

Patients want easier and more convenient access to the healthcare system. Including mobile and online access, because hey I can order clothes online, why not schedule an appointment with my doctor? Improving patient satisfaction through higher customer service will benefit both patients and hospital.

Using technology to schedule appointments, handle refills and ask and answer questions will save not only the patient time but the hospital as well. Leaving more of this valuable time for patient care.

 

4. Family and Friends Experience

Family and friends are extremely important to patients. Hospital stays are often lonely and a visit from a loved one can instantly lift a patient’s spirit. You can imagine that the patient’s well being is heavily influenced by how well their friends and family are doing as well.

Ensuring the patient’s support team is as comfortable as possible will work wonders for improving patient satisfaction levels. A great way to do this is to provide them with the information they need. And creating a welcoming and supporting waiting room for them. Colors and furniture choices will create a visual warmth in an often clinical looking building.

Using healthcare technology like free WiFi and waiting room TV is also guaranteed to create a friendly space. Hospitals shouldn’t just aim for satisfied patients, but for satisfied visitors too.

 

5. Benefit from EHR’s 

Electronic Health Records are making live easier than ever. Tracking a patient’s ongoing health conditions is now very accessible. Improving patient satisfaction can be done through EHR’s by providing easy to read charts and test results.

After each doctor’s visit a patient is left with a simple and clear overview of their healthcare situation. And a summary of the plan of care.

Information is quickly becoming the currency of improving patient satisfaction levels in healthcare. EHR’s are essential to accomplishing great access to information.

 

Where some people fear healthcare technology will take away the personal touch, the opposite is reality. It enhances the interaction between doctors and patients, increases efficiency throughout the hospital and automates processes. Ultimately freeing up time of doctors, nurses and other care staff that can be spent on actual patient care. Once again improving patient satisfaction.

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