While you might not think that hospital room service is something that matters most to your patients, it’s critical to hone in on these small factors, which can have a lasting effect on patient satisfaction scores. In turn, your medical facility can maintain its competitive edge by simply finding out what works – and doesn’t work – for your visitors.
Patients of New Jersey hospitals may soon begin to see a stark difference in the quality of care they receive at medical venues. This is because the Boston-based Institute for Healthcare Optimization has paired up with hospitals across the state to reduce operating costs and boost revenue through patient satisfaction over the course of a 15-month partnership.
The work will be funded through the Affordable Care Act, as well as the New Jersey Hospital Association’s Partnership for Patients’ contract with the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
“The results are consistent with the goals of the Affordable Care Act – to reduce healthcare costs through improved efficiency,” said Betsy Ryan, NJHA President and CEO. “But each of those efficiency standards also yield important results in improved quality and safety for patients.”
Through this 15-month project, organizers believe that waiting times at local hospitals may be reduced by up to 85 percent. Up to 17,300 more patients might be able to receive treatment without the need to construct new operating rooms or inpatient beds. Hospital stays may also be shortened by a maximum of 47 percent for specific groups of patients.
Keeping your patients happy
Patient satisfaction doesn’t have to be difficult to achieve if you and your staff are willing to put forth an effort on a regular basis. This means maintaining close communication with your patients and making sure they understand everything from surgery procedures to treatment methods, according to Physicians Practice.
Typically, surveys are administered to find out exactly how satisfied patients were during their stays. These results are critical to maintaining a high level of satisfaction over an extended period of time. Utilizing items such as nutrition software can also help staff keep track of each patient’s specific needs. Personalized care can help a hospital maintain good scores and a competitive edge among other medical facilities in the region.
If your hospital hasn’t revamped its patient care strategy recently, there’s no better time to make a change than today.