10 Ways Your Clinic Can Improve Patient Care

Patient care is the number one priority of all medical clinics. Whether you are a dentist, sexual health clinic, physician’s office, or community health center, you want to ensure every single patient leaves feeling well looked after. Most clinics cover the basics, such as treating physical ailments, but it goes beyond that. If you’re looking to increase revenue and create happy (and healthy) patients, here are ten ways to improve patient care. 

1: Focus on Prevention 

Medical clinics are not just for providing treatment; they are also for guiding people in the right direction healthcare-wise. If a person is significantly overweight, for example, a nurse or doctor can provide advice on how to shift some of that weight to ensure it doesn’t lead to any problems down the road, such as heart failure or diabetes. 

To provide more people with access to preventive care, conduct Annual Wellness Visits for those with Medicare plans. That way, many of your patients don’t need a pre-existing condition or medical worry to receive healthcare advice. 

2: Train Your Staff  

The best patient care comes from experienced, well-trained doctors and nurses, so train your staff up as much as possible. Consider each of their positions and what sort of training would improve the way they treat patients. A nurse might be qualified in terms of medical knowledge, for example, but a training course on leadership could improve their skills even further. 

3: Listen to Each Concern 

When a patient comes in with multiple symptoms, it’s crucial to listen to each concern carefully. That might seem like it goes without saying, but doctors can sometimes focus too much on one symptom without fully taking the others into account. Even if a symptom seems minor, do your best to help alleviate it in any way you can. 

4: Provide Emotional Support 

Emotional support is often just as important as physical support. While your main concern is the physical health of a patient, you must also consider how they are feeling. This is especially true when a patient is going through something traumatic, such as a cancer diagnosis or a very sick child. Don’t just be there to perform medical procedures – be there emotionally, too. Sometimes, all it takes is a kind word or a hand on the shoulder. 

5: Speak in a Language They Understand 

Sometimes, simplicity is best, especially when it comes to informing your patients about their health problems and needs. While you and your staff might know the medical terminology that describes illnesses in detail, you need to speak to your patients in a language they understand. Otherwise, they run the risk of leaving your clinic without the knowledge they need. By keeping it as simple as possible, you ensure your patients know exactly what’s wrong and what they need to do, thus improving their care. 

6: Use Up to Date Equipment 

No matter how compassionate or talented your team is, patients will be disappointed if you use out-of-date equipment. Not only will the equipment not work as well as modern models, but it’ll also show your patients that you don’t care enough to invest in their care. If your practice won’t spend money on better equipment, why should patients spend money on your clinic? 

Consider how technology can make it easier for patients to receive care, too. Many patients, especially the younger generation, prefer being able to book appointments on an app, for example. Keep in mind who the majority of your patients are, though – if you work with the elderly, they might not be as accustomed to communicating via the internet. 

7: Keep an Organized Schedule 

Understandably, patients get frustrated when their appointments are pushed back, or they are seen far later than planned. After all, they may have other important obligations that day. To avoid disappointment, make organization a priority. That means scheduling the day properly by taking into account how long each patient will need and extra time for any emergencies. Once you show a patient that you stick to your word in terms of scheduling, they’re more likely to trust you. 

8: Provide a Comfortable Environment 

A clean and comfortable clinic is a must for excellent patient care. No patient wants to walk into a medical clinic to find that the chairs are uncomfortable, the walls are grimy, and that the carpet is outdated and in need of a vacuum. To make your patients feel as comfortable as possible, ensure the clinic is sparkling clean and invest in uplifting décor. Even if the medical care is largely the same, the difference of a positive environment has an enormous impact. 

9: Hire the Best 

While you should hone what you already have, when it’s time to hire new staff, take your time to ensure you only hire the best. That goes for every area of the clinic, including receptionists, nurses, and cleaners. When patients call the clinic for an inquiry or appointment, you want the voice on the other end to be professional, helpful, and polite. If a new patient walks into your clinic, you want them to be dazzled by how well the place is kept. 

A couple of things to look out for when hiring new employees include how much experience they have, how friendly they appear in interviews, and what previous employers say about their work ethic. By making it your mission to fill all positions with talented staff, patient care will improve. 

10: Keep Researching 

The medical world is constantly evolving, and you need to stay up to date if you want to provide your patients with the best care possible. That means you and your team should keep up with any healthcare developments, including new technology and medical discoveries. Read medical news, journals, and blogs to ensure you’re never behind the other clinics when it comes to the best patient care. 

By prioritizing great patient care above all else, you ensure your patients are happy and keep coming back time and time again.

This is a guest blog entry.