Improving patient care has become a priority for all health care providers with the overall objective of achieving a high degree of patient satisfaction.
There are a number of factors that are contributing to this great change.
These include Greater responsiveness among the public, growing demand for better care, acute competition, more health care regulation, the rise in medical malpractice litigation and concern about poor outcomes.
Care Hope College defines patient care as that aspect of attention that ensures that the patient is kept happy and comfortable with their wellbeing in mind.
It is their right to be treated with dignity and care.
They have the right to have their privacy maintained and the quality of patient care is basically determined by the quality of infrastructure, quality of training, competence of personnel and efficiency of operational systems.
The fundamental requirement is the adoption of a system that is ‘patient orientated’ at a time existing problems in health care relate to both medical and non-medical factors and a comprehensive system that improves both aspects must be implemented.
In developing countries like Zimbabwe, health care systems face an even greater challenge since quality and cost recovery must be balanced with equal opportunities in patient care.
It is thus imperative for the health services sector to keep making efforts to improve health care.
Why is heath care important?
Healthy People 2030 notes that high-quality health care help prevent diseases and improve quality of life and helping health care providers communicate more effectively can assist in improving health and well-being.
Naturally, primary healthcare is the first contact a person has with the health care system when they have a health problem.
Health care can enhance the health of a country’s population, greater efficiency in the health care system, however, could yield even greater health for Zimbabweans without increasing health care spending.
One of the most important reasons why healthcare is crucial is that it allows individuals to maintain their physical and mental well-being as regular check-ups, preventative care, and early detection of diseases are all critical for staying healthy.
Healthcare workers thus become the backbone of the healthcare system, and they play a vital role in keeping people healthy by providing medical care, performing diagnostic tests, and administering treatments.
How to improve patient care
According to the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)patient-centred care is interrelated with reduced pain and discomfort, faster physical and emotional recovery, as well as improved outcomes and quality of life.
Here are some of the ways patient care can be improved.
1. Enable access to care
To enhance the care of patient populations across regions, ethnicities, and social classes, medical professionals have transcended the boundaries of the traditional medical environment to address the social determinants of health.
Persistent, long-term factors like education, social position, income, and living environment play a significant role in promoting patient care and preventing or reducing disease effects. Addressing these (often subtle) determinants will improve patient outcomes.
It is thus essential that care team members know a patient’s medical history and implement patient care technology that helps avert faults and inspires care plan compliance.
2. Coordinate patient care with other providers
Welkin notes that when medical professionals in primary care, urgent care, long-term care, and specialty care address food, pain management, housing, transportation, as well as mental and behavioural health challenges, they’re practicing whole-person care.
It also makes sense take more holistic care of patients and of each patient’s family.
Because primary care planners, nursing homes, hospitals, social services agencies, and religious institutions directly impact patient care, it makes sense for all of them to collaborate to take more holistic care of patients and of each patient’s family.
To do so effectively, they need care management platforms that enable communication between health care settings.
3. Show respect
Patients have direct and indirect needs and desires that affect patient outcomes.
Their level of medical education, financial constraints, transportation availability, and care access influence their choices and their patient experience.
Acknowledging and taking care of patient concerns demonstrates that you see them as humans with unique needs. This may also assist in motivate them to respect their health journey and follow their care plan.
4. Involve patients’ family members and friends
AMA Journal of Ethics argues that taking care of patients requires embracing the support and contributions of every patient’s family and loved ones.
Family-centred medical professionals allow competent patients and their caretakers to participate in healthcare decision-making.
The concept of patient-centred care stresses the framework and wider life experiences that can either generate illness or enable healing.
As care plans become more collaborative, medical professionals are becoming more proficient in patient-centred care communication.
When providers explain the potential benefits and adverse effects of care plan medication to the patient’s family, providers generate the trust that enhances the patient experience.
6. Express gratitude
It is always important to thank people for coming through your way especially in a world full of competition.
A simple, “Thanks for choosing our practice” goes a long way, especially when it’s accompanied by small things like eye contact and the patient’s name.
Ideal patient care addresses basic human needs thus it is imperative to enquire with each individual patient and each patient’s family about their preferences, goals, and expectations.
7. Streamline Care Management with technology
In this day and age, patients usually are comfortable with services that are convenient and that promote management of their health conditions more effectively.
This requires that a service provider streamlines patient care as well as provider communication.
Care Management reduces the need for repetitive medical services and improves patient outcomes. It makes patient care harmonization and clinical treatment easier and less nerve-racking by eradicating replication and allowing patients to improve their quality of life, one message at a time.