In 2017, Johns Hopkins Medicine published a study that ranked medical errors as the third leading cause of death in the United States. That number is staggering. Here are three common patient care problems and how your practice can easily avoid them.
Medication Errors
Medication errors may include administration of the wrong drug, drug overdoses and overlooked allergies. In many cases, patients are giving medication instructions. But some patients soon forget the specific directions or even mix up their medications. A simply way you can help them avoid this mistake is using automated reminders. You can create tailor messages for your patients specific to their medication directions. This includes their specific medication instructions. Using automated messaging can also open a line of communication between you and your patients.
Inadequate Communication
Poor communication is frustrating for both the patient and staff. However, in health care, communication breakdowns can be dangerous. Communication needs to be effective on both sides of the glass. Implementing morning meetings or team huddles can quickly get everyone on the same page. Also, offering multiple communication channels to your patients can make a huge difference. The convenience of communication will encourage your patients to participate in communication.
Workplace health effects patient care
Health care professionals can’t treat patients if they are sick themselves. Workplace health should always be a priority in your practice. This includes both physical and mental health. Here are some ways you can promote workplace health:
- Healthy habits at work like yoga at your desk or healthy snacks
- Encourage supportive and comfortable shoes, especially for staff that are on their feet constantly
- A healthy and positive workplace culture
These are only a few ideas and not all of them will work with your practice. You will need to evaluate your staff’s needs and cater to them appropriately. Nothing beats simply asking them. In many cases, your staff will have great suggestions that you can implement immediately. As a result, if your patients are healthy, they can offer the best patient care.
One of the easiest steps you can take right now is signing up for a free trial with Appointmentreminders.com. This program is perfect for creating automated messages for your patients. Using text messaging, email or phone calls you can tailor customer reminders for appointments, medication, and much more. Sign up now for your 30-day free trial.
