How High-Quality Care Improves Patient Satisfaction & Recovery Times

Satisfied Patients Create Thriving Hospitals

The primary objective of a hospital is to provide high-quality care as quickly as possible. Hospitals, particularly specialty institutions like ASCs, also depend on patient satisfaction and recovery times. Patient satisfaction can affect hospital reimbursements, which can make or break a hospital. A better patient experience through high-quality care could be the difference between a satisfied patient and a frustrated one.

The metrics that matter

Patients come into an emergency room or surgical center stressed, overwhelmed, and in some pain. Naturally, these anxious patients expect fast turnaround times, a correct diagnosis, and empathy. When these fail, patients leave without being seen or leave against medical advice. Furthermore, there may be readmissions if the patient is not adequately addressed. High-quality care means improving these metrics while emphasizing patient engagement at every touchpoint.

Reducing wait times with proper case management

Wait times are one of the most significant factors of patient satisfaction. When a patient enters the hospital, the process for medical care starts. The patient is registered and becomes a case handled by case managers. Studies show that this wait time has a significant impact on the patient’s perception of care. Improving case management can significantly improve patient satisfaction and recovery. Hospitals can have doctors support the case management process and outsource virtual case managers to speed up the process.

High-quality staff = high-quality service

At the end of the day, patients are customers. Having a kind, compassionate staff on hand can help patients feel more relaxed and willing to follow doctor instructions. A patient’s mental state has a direct impact on recovery. By making a patient feel comfortable, the patient can focus on healing, cutting down on recovery times. Hospitals should focus on sensitivity training, constant communication, and patient engagement. There should also be a focus on comfort at every stage of the journey. Furthermore, spending more on experienced nurses, support staff, and leadership could pay dividends with quality.

The importance of physician follow-up

Once a patient leaves the hospital, the road to recovery starts. To improve recovery times and reduce readmissions, hospitals should communicate with patients after discharge. High-quality care extends the hospital. Hospitals should place resources into follow-up calls. If doctors aren’t able to reach patients live, hospitals can outsource follow-up or automate the outreach.

Invest in high-quality care today

There are some powerful, effective ways to provide high-quality care in hospitals. Start by establishing an effective patient engagement and patient experience strategy. All staff members should make sure to focus on empathy, respect, and courtesy. These are intangible things, but hospitals can also invest in technology for case management and follow-up. Hospitals will see a great return on investment by pouring into these qualities.