Ease the Way - Gebauer Patient Comfort Blog

How Nurse Leaders Can Reduce Hospital Readmission Rates

By: Julianne Filion | On: September 30, 2015

When a patient is admitted to your hospital, it’s up to you, your team and your hospital’s physicians to treat his or her concerns fully and completely. Theoretically, if you accomplish this task, your patients will start a successful road to recovery and return to their lives. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.

Unplanned hospital readmission, or a patient’s return to the hospital for the same or related issue is not only inconvenient for the patient, it also poses a significant concern for hospitals. That’s because, as of October 2012, the federal government began penalizing hospitals with excessive readmission rates in the form of reduced Medicare reimbursement. Not to mention, readmissions can affect patient satisfaction and strain hospital resources.

Because nurse leaders play such a vital role in a patient’s hospital experience, it’s often up to you and your team to reduce the risk of readmission. To help you achieve this goal, we’ve put together three tips to decrease your hospital’s unexpected readmissions:

Top 3 Things Private Practice Physicians Should Know About Shared Decision Making

By: Bethany Nock | On: September 24, 2015

Over the last several years, patients have begun taking a much greater vested interest in their health and wellness. While patients of previous generations took their doctor’s word at face value, today’s patients are researching their symptoms and conditions online, downloading case studies and engaging with other patients in internet forums. While this means some patients arrive for their visit armed with a self-diagnosis and droves of misinformation, it also means people are becoming more invested in their treatment.

To leverage this interest, and help patients take a more active role in their care plan, many healthcare providers are using Shared Decision Making (SDM). In other words, it’s a strategy in which, instead of making a decision on a patient’s behalf, clinicians provide patients with the knowledge they need and walk through the decision-making process together.

Here are three things you should know about SDM, and how to best implement it in your own practice:

How Can Medical Private Practices Improve Online Reviews?

By: Bethany Nock | On: September 17, 2015

You’ve heard the old adage “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch.” When it comes to online reviews for private practice physicians, this couldn’t be more accurate. Despite the glowing opinions of your most loyal patients, a few unhappy respondents can drive down your score and leave prospective new patients feeling wary.

For years, the healthcare industry has wrestled with how much credit to give review sites such as Yelp and Google Places. But today, with so many patients turning to healthcare-specific review sites like Healthgrades and RateMDs, and the growing presence of healthcare providers on Facebook, there’s no denying the importance of online reviews and social media. In fact, according to statistics provided by the Mayo Clinic Health Care Social Media List and American Hospital Association, 41 percent of people said social media would affect their choice of a specific doctor, hospital or medical facility.

So, how do you improve online reviews along with your online reputation? Here are a few of the best practices for private practice doctors:

5 Ways Hospital Administrators Can Improve Patient-Centered Care

By: Bethany Nock | On: September 10, 2015

As hospital administrators know, perhaps better than anyone, hospitals are complex organizations. Communication is a constant challenge, and it can take several months to implement even the smallest process change. After all of the paperwork, training and follow-up reviews, you may begin to question whether your amendments are truly improving the workspace, or simply adding more madness to the mayhem.

However, while failure to comply with some procedures, such as organizing supplies, may be a source of frustration, other procedures, such as those focused on patient-centered care, can have a major impact on your hospital’s success.

Here are a few ways you can improve patient-centered care in your hospital environment, and make sure it sticks.

Everybody Hurts: Why Patient Comfort isn’t Just for Pediatrics

By: Bethany Nock | On: September 3, 2015

patient_comfort_pediatrics_everybody_hurts_ There are plenty of things that change amidst the transition from childhood to adulthood. You no longer cry when your scoop of ice cream tumbles to the concrete, for example. And, more than likely, you no longer need the security of a teddy bear nightlight to ward off bad dreams. However, just because you’re paying your own bills and willingly consuming spinach doesn’t mean you’re suddenly immune to the pain and anxiety of a visit to the doctor.

There’s a common misconception in the medical world that adults don’t need to be numbed before a vaccination, or talked through an IV start, because they’re mature and experienced enough to simply “deal with it.” However, though they may not feel it appropriate to voice their concerns, adults can benefit from comfort measures just as much as children.

Here are three reasons healthcare providers should consider increasing patient comfort measures for adults, too: