As a medical professional, you want to make sure your patients are satisfied with their visit. They come to you needing assessment or treatment, and they trust you’ll take care of them. Doctors’ visits tend to make people uneasy, so it’s important to make the patient comfortable in any way you can. We suggest a few ways to improve patient satisfaction, so read on to learn more.
Be Personable
Being personable is one of the best ways to improve patient satisfaction. Many people come to the doctor feeling uneasy. Patients have a lot on their minds when they come in. It’s important to be personable so they feel more comfortable. There are a few things that go into being personable. For example, try to be an active listener. This means using eye contact and body language to signify that you’re listening. It’s important to take your eyes off the monitor or paperwork to look the patient in the eyes. Even if you can multitask, eye contact makes the patient feel valued and prioritized.
Body language is another way to show a patient that you’re listening. Eye contact is a great way to signify this, but there are other forms of nonverbal communication to use. For example, you can nod your head while they’re talking. This shows that you understand what they’re saying and how they’re feeling.
When you address the person, make sure you use their name. It’s more personable to use their name throughout the conversation. You can simply drop their name into a sentence, or just use their name when you greet them. You can also smile or make conversation with them during the visit. When you remember something about their family or their job, it establishes a good relationship and shows that you’re a good listener. The more personable you are, the more comfortable your patient will be.
Educate the Patient
Doctor visits can be stressful. Many medical terms and conditions are being mentioned, and sometimes it’s overwhelming. Understand that you might need to explain things to your patient. Although you know the terms you’re using, the patient may not. Take the time to educate your patient during the visit. If there’s a complex issue at hand, explain it to them and offer additional resources.
If you’re prescribing a new medication, give them any information you have ahead of time. You can also suggest that they ask the pharmacist specific questions. You should also make sure you give them time to ask questions. You must make them feel comfortable enough to ask questions. You don’t want a patient leaving feeling like they wasted their time. If you talk to the patient throughout the visit and inform them of what you see, they feel more involved. The more involved a patient feels in their health, the more satisfied they’ll be.
Be Punctual
Something that often decreases patient satisfaction is having to wait. There’s nothing worse than taking time off work and waiting too long. When a patient comes in for a visit, realize that they’re busy too. People take time off work or move around their schedule to see you. You must be punctual to show that you value their time. Most people anticipate waiting for a few minutes, but try your best not to exceed that.
You can do a few different things to ensure that you are being punctual. One way to be punctual is to give yourself time between each patient. Some appointments go over their scheduled time, so give yourself some wiggle room. It’s also helpful to keep track of how long each appointment usually takes. You want to have a schedule that is manageable and realistic. If you know how long each appointment takes, you can outline your day accordingly.
Another thing you can do is hire people to help you prepare for each appointment. Whether it’s a nurse or an intern, you should have a few people to assist you. They can prepare the rooms between visits or speak to the patient before you come in. Hiring more people can make your business run much more efficiently.
Create a Calm Environment
A hospital or doctor’s office isn’t the most relaxing place, so try to create a calm environment. There are many ways to create a calm environment. One way to do this is to make sure the facility is as quiet as possible. Of course, this isn’t always possible, but minimizing any noise is a good idea. You should also try to limit one bed per room. Again, this isn’t always possible, but try to do this when you can. It’s hard for a patient to remain calm when they don’t have privacy. If your facility has the capacity, have only one bed per room.
Keep the Facility Clean
Many people experience anxiety related to cleanliness, especially during COVID-19. Although medical facilities have always prioritized sanitation, it’s more important than ever during the pandemic. If you want patients to be satisfied with their visit, make sure you keep the facility clean. This starts in the waiting room. If you have an area for people to wait, make sure you wipe down the chairs frequently. You should also keep hand sanitizer throughout the facility for people to use.
You can also keep PPE in the front of the office. You can provide masks and gloves so that everyone has access to PPE. If you have a public restroom, make sure it’s clean throughout the day. If your facility is clean, your patients are likely to be satisfied with their visit.
Upgrade Outdated Technology
Patients seek the advice of a medical professional because they want an accurate assessment or treatment. To ensure that your assessment and treatment is accurate, make sure you upgrade outdated technology. Keep a log of when you got each machine and how often it was serviced. This makes it easy to know when it’s time to upgrade. At All States M.E.D., we offer new and used medical equipment. We’ve got everything from C-arm machines to power medical exam tables and chairs. Be sure to check out our website and give us a call if you have any questions.
