Customer service is something that is always a big priority for those in the retail and service sectors. The healthcare industry should be no exception to this rule. Everyone in the business of medicine is in place to provide help and care to those who need it or seek it, so attention to the level of service provided should be at the forefront of their responsibilities. Many practices, however, miss the mark and their patients suffer. Though you might be the only game in town who accepts a specific insurance, that certainly doesn’t mean that your patients should be made to take what they can get. Here are a few important points about providing great customer service to your patients that can help you to develop the policies you need for a popular, well-loved practice. Continue reading “Defining Customer Service for Your Medical Practice”
Category: Career Tips
Looking for career in healthcare tips? Look no further than the Soliant blog for your up-to-date tips.
Tips for Handling Shift Transitions
on /Shiftwork is something that nearly every healthcare professional has to deal with at some point in their career. Just when you get used to working a certain shift, it’s time to switch up and change over to another. This can wreak havoc on your personal schedule and internal clock, making it hard to cope both physically and mentally. Shift work can also take a toll on your family, as their schedule is disrupted by your altered availability, varied meal and sleep times, and more. How do you handle this necessary evil with the least disruption? Here are a few tips that can help with shift transitions: Continue reading “Tips for Handling Shift Transitions”
Protecting Yourself while Protecting Your Patients
on /A few weeks ago, there was a story all over the news and social media, featuring a video of a nurse being taken into custody after refusing to allow blood to be drawn from an unconscious patient. In the video, a police officer was demanding that he be allowed to draw blood from the patient who was under her care, though he had no warrant to override direct consent from the patient, which he was unable to give. The officer became irate at her refusal, though she explained that it was her job to protect the rights of her patient, and placed her in handcuffs.
In the end, the nurse came out as the hero, and there was an investigation of the officer who was wrongfully asking for the blood sample and wrongfully placed her into custody. It was a dramatic scenario and quite frightening to any medical professional who cares about their patients, even though the final outcome was positive.
At some hospitals, this has caused serious discussion about the place of nurses and other care providers in being the point of contact with the police. Changes are being made at some facilities to remove those directly responsible for patient care from the equation so they are no longer required to interact with the police. If your facility is not one of these, it is important to know how to protect yourself and your patients in similar scenarios. Continue reading “Protecting Yourself while Protecting Your Patients”
Educating Patients is as Important as Medicine
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When patients are diagnosed with a condition that requires extensive or long-term treatment, going the “take two of these and call me in the morning” route might seem the simplest way to go, but it can be detrimental to their personal outcome. Patient education is a very important part of the diagnostic and treatment process that should not be overlooked or glazed over. In fact, some hospitals and practices employ patient educators whose specific job it is to work with patients to improve their understanding. Those who have a better understanding of their condition, how it can affect them, things they can do to improve their own outcome, and the why and how of their diagnosis and prognosis are better patients and will have a better outcome and outlook as they go through treatment. Continue reading “Educating Patients is as Important as Medicine”
Diversity in Healthcare: Handling Discrimination in the Workplace
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We live in an age where, no matter your gender, race, or religion, you are able to go into any profession you wish. Unfortunately, we also live in a world where there is a large amount of stereotyping and discrimination still taking place. While legally you may be able to take on any role that you would like, there are those who may hold personal beliefs that you are not qualified for your job due to the color of your skin, your age, or other factors. What are you to do when faced with a patient or even a colleague who distrusts you or refuses your service because you or your staff members don’t fit their personal ideal for a doctor or nurse?
Continue reading “Diversity in Healthcare: Handling Discrimination in the Workplace”
Coping with Mistakes as a Medical Professional
on /First, do no harm – the words of the Hippocratic oath are forever embedded in the memory of every person who spends even a moment in the medical profession. While our time is spent working to make the best decisions possible for the patients that have entrusted you with their care or the care of their loved ones, at the end of the day, we are all simply human. Mistakes will be made and whether they are the result of a judgment error, lack of information, or simply from distraction and being overworked, they can be detrimental and consuming. Continue reading “Coping with Mistakes as a Medical Professional”