Whether your healthcare business is a regional hospital or a small-town clinic, improving the patient experience should be at the top of your to-do list for the coming year. This is because when people have a choice regarding their healthcare provider, they will pick the one that gives them the best service, just like with any other business. When patient experience is not a priority, you could lose out to the competition very easily.
There are some best practices to be aware of so you can provide exceptional care to your patients. Not only will patients be happier with the experience, but it also leads to improved outcomes. In this post, we will go over some ways you can achieve both.
Improved parking lot management
It may sound strange, but one of the first things to do when improving patient experience at your facility is to hone your parking management system. The parking lot is the first impression that a patient has with your business. If it is frustrating to park and enter the facility, this will lead to a poor overall experience.
It’s important to balance security with functionality for the patient. Implementing parking lot management systems, such as permit systems, digital parking meters, and parking guidance systems, will help keep the parking lot running smoothly and provide an easy-to-navigate system for patients.
Companies like Genetec are great at that balancing act, as they have the type of software and processes to manage the system.
Reduce wait times
Long wait times and limited access to care can be major barriers for patients, and they can have a significant impact on patient satisfaction and outcomes. People get very frustrated when they have an appointment and wait to be seen anyway.
The key is to create a system that is efficient so that patients are seen more quickly and get access to care in a timely fashion. Implementing appointment scheduling systems, such as online appointment scheduling and appointment reminder systems is a start.
Improving triage processes, such as using nurse triage lines and urgent care centers, will help to process people faster so there is less time doing the administrative side. This can help people get seen faster and appointments are done on time which speeds up the line to be seen.
Streamline clinical workflow
Streamlining processes and protocols is also a way to reduce wait times which improves the customer experience. It is a more efficient system that helps doctors see more patients, but, more importantly, it improves patient outcomes.
The first step is to use technology to automate tasks and improve communication between healthcare providers. Taking the mundane tasks away from doctors, nurses, and administrators will free them up to spend more time with the patient while also increasing workflow per patient.
Improving collaboration and communication between departments and healthcare providers will reduce time wasted between patients while ensuring they are providing high-quality care and delivering an exceptional patient experience.
