The news is covered with the many challenges associated with mass vaccine distribution and administration. Unfortunately, the words efficiency and comfort are not making the headlines related to this undertaking. In this blog we will breakdown how efficiency is critical to maximize patient output, and how keeping patient comfort at the forefront can help fuel efficiency goals.
Efficiency
Efficiency is critical in healthcare. When vaccination visits are efficient, it can result in more overall visits per day. Although this concept seems straight forward, there are several factors to consider. For example, a vaccination is a needle procedure and many people have some sort of fear of needles. Needle phobia is not specific to pediatrics and, depending on how it is addressed, can either make or break a visit when it comes to efficiency. In our eBook, we discuss this topic extensively and include ways to help reduce and prevent needle phobia.
Another factor is patient management and flow. Consider the patient flow at your facility. Properly utilizing a medical practice management software may be able to help. Continuously reviewing your protocols and habits, identifying potential bottlenecks, or determining if technology can assist with a better patient flow. You may find that additional training for your staff is all that is necessary to keep things moving smoothly.
Comfort
As medical professionals, patient comfort is always top of mind. Keeping patients comfortable can actually play a beneficial role in how efficient a visit is. It can be challenging to focus on patient comfort when the workload is high or the atmosphere is stressful. However, implementing simple solutions into existing processes can help lead to a more systematic approach in facilitating patient comfort measures.
One such approach is to consider implementing a poke plan for patients. A poke plan may help alleviate patient concerns and promote patient comfort and compliance. Additionally, clinicians can explain procedures and associated processes to the patient in easy-to-understand language, they can keep the patient involved and offer pain alleviation measures such as a topical refrigerant spray like Gebauer’s Pain Ease®.
A double-blind study of 300 adults revealed that patients experienced decreased pain when receiving a topical refrigerant spray for peripheral intravenous placement. The study also shows that this cold spray is easy to apply, inexpensive, has a fast onset, avoids needlestick pain and anxiety, and needlestick injury risk. Topical refrigerants, like Pain Ease, can be incorporated directly into your vaccination process to help maximize efficiency and comfort when administering immunizations. Furthermore, cold sprays like Pain Ease can be simply implemented in three easy steps:
- Prep the site per your facility’s protocols.
- Spray Pain Ease at the site of injection.
- Perform the procedure.
*Refer to product labeling for full instructions.
Including Pain Ease instant topical anesthetic cold spray in your vaccination program may help to decrease anxieties in those who are needle phobic and may even aid in overall patient compliance and follow-up. Vapocoolants, like Pain Ease, reduce pain associated with vaccination in adults and children. Pain Ease can help promote visit efficiency by providing immediate, temporary pain management.
Learn more about keeping your vaccination visits efficient and comfortable by downloading our free document here.
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