Today's guest post is from Hannah Whittenly.  Hannah is a freelance writer and mother of two from Sacramento, CA. She enjoys kayaking and reading books by the lake.  Her article today is about how to provide quality care and her tips apply to a number of roles within the private duty and home health space.  They are nice reminders for caregivers and useful for those managing a team of caregivers:

Very few people actually enjoy going to the doctor's office or clinic, but the relief that is often provided makes the experience well worth it. That being said, there is a great deal of anxiety that typically accompanies such a trip, and this can be compounded if a facility is not doing all that it can to make the experience more comfortable for the patient. There are ways to ensure that individuals no longer fear a trip to the doctor, however, so that is an encouraging sign. As you reflect on this topic, consider the following four ways that healthcare professionals can work to improve upon their level of patient care today.

Put a Smile on Your Face

Going to a doctor's office is already a stressful enough experience without encountering staff that seem disinterested or bored. The patient experience begins right when an individual walks through the doors. Individuals and families should be greeted with a smile and made to feel as though they are king or queen for a day. No matter what the potential ailment might be, it is up to the healthcare professional to put their mind at ease and made to feel that they are in great hands. Putting a smile on your face and a positive tone to your voice will go a long way in ensuring that this core objective is met, and that overall patient satisfaction scores go up.

Maximize Performance Levels

With technology today, there is no reason that patents cannot be seen more quickly and with more efficiency. One of the biggest frustrations accompanying a visit to the doctor has long been the wait time. This should begin to go down exponentially today given the opportunity to increase performance levels throughout any given facility and with the help of various patient engagement systems. Multiple tasks can be accomplished without having to send a patient to another department. Patients should no longer be left alone for long periods of time. This can all be alleviated with a better use of technology that leads to enhanced levels of performance throughout the facility.

Streamline Intake and Outtake Processes

Automating the paperwork and application process can help patients be seen more quickly today than ever before. If you facility still requires mounds of paperwork before a patient's blood pressure is even taken, you can bet that your patient satisfaction scores are correspondingly low in comparison. Take advantage of technology in this area by streaming both your patient intake and outtake process. Individuals will begin to notice the difference as they get admitted and discharged electronically. This will decrease wait times and make life easier for doctors and nurses as well.

Put Yourself in Patient's Position

It is always helpful for a healthcare professional to put themselves in the position of the patient. Consider their needs and how you would want to be treated if you were in their shoes. This will help you empathize with them and understand what they are going through. It is easy to lose perspective as a healthcare professional because you are in the facility every day. Many patients only visit the doctor once a year, so the anxiety that they feel can be immense. Improve in this area and the overall patient experience will be greatly enhanced.

When healthcare professionals begin to implement these four strategies, the overall patient experience will be greatly enhanced. This is important in an era of increasing competition, where individuals do have a choice of medical provider. It is important to take care of a patient's wellbeing, both physically and emotionally, throughout the time that they are being seen. If you can do this, you will experience increasing patient satisfaction numbers on the whole.

- - - - - - - 

Ankota has a new e-book available for download called, Winning with the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Program, that offers further insight on the discussion.  Just click the link or the picture beow to download.