Abstract
By definition, a patient is a person who requires or receives medical treatment under the care of a physician or licensed practitioner. Therefore, patients are essential to the healthcare system and should do anything to guarantee they receive the best care possible. As we mentioned, the best care possible begins when the patient enters the building and continues until they leave. Every employee, from the security guard to the clerk and the physician, plays an important role in the patient’s experience during the visit. The patient experience determines the outcome of the visit, which is crucial for the patient and the facility.
Introduction
A patient is an individual who requires medical attention in the care of a doctor or licensed practitioner; this care can be given in a hospital setting, a clinic, or a care setting (Wardle,2022). Reporting to a hospital setting is never on someone’s agenda; what makes it manageable is how they will be treated physically, emotionally, and socially. Therefore, this experience relies on the staff, from the unit clerk to the executive leadership.
Patient experience benefits both parties; the patient is satisfied, and the institution is recommended based on the knowledge gained. The patient experience influences their treatment adherence, which constitutes the outcome of the treatment. If the patient had a bad experience, the healing process may be affected; if they had a wonderful experience, it will result in a positive patient outcome. A positive patient outcome is based on the maintenance of patient functional status and safety and patient satisfaction.
In healthcare, successful patient outcomes are crucial because they demonstrate how well patient care and healthcare treatments work. In an effort to find real and existing data, the sources used for this research were all published in the last five years. This search made use of the databases PubMed, NCBI, SagePub, Peer-Reviewed articles, and Medical Websites. The selection of these databases ensured a wide range of pertinent research papers because of their comprehensive coverage of the medical and healthcare literature.
In order to provide a thorough picture, the research chosen for inclusion in this review had to concentrate on a range of healthcare settings. Wardle (2022) is one of the publications that affirmed that establishing patient-centered, collaborative treatment that allows for better patient-practitioner communication can lead to improved asthma outcomes. This paper investigates the essential aspects that result in positive patient results in healthcare environments, such as patient safety, patient-centered care, effective communication, and interdisciplinary cooperation.
Strategies to Achieve Positive Patient Outcomes
Patient-Centered Care
Firstly, the key to improving favorable patient outcomes is patient-centered care. Patients’ satisfaction levels rise, and treatment results improve when they actively engage in care choices. Sarbaz et al. (2022) support the idea that “other studies illustrated that patients have positive feedback on providing self-care recommendations… This considerable improvement encourages increased patient participation in the self-care process, which in turn will increase the quality of care… (p. 13). Therefore, one of the surest ways to increase patient happiness and results is for healthcare practitioners to incorporate patients in their decision-making processes.
On the other hand, there are instances when patients should not be allowed to make decisions on their health concerns since they can reject even the best healthcare service without their knowledge. Pirotte and Benson (2023) outline on their website that minors, intoxicated, and psychiatric patients are likely to make wrong decisions about their health. In these situations, healthcare professionals are compelled to decide what is best for the patient while also taking into account any advance directives or health legal guidance. Akdeniz et al. (2021) likewise add that healthcare practitioners should participate in open and honest communication with patients when they insist on a therapy that has no medical value or might be detrimental. The medics are urged to explain the issue to such patients and provide alternatives in their best interest.
Effective Communication
Secondly, proper communication should similarly be a priority in healthcare systems. In the whole healthcare system, every staff member helps make patients feel valued, from security officers to clerks. Security workers can establish a friendly and peaceful environment for safe communication to occur in the workplace. Tariq and Hackert (2023) explain more on their website that when patients can ascertain that their data will be safe, secure, and confidential, they will open up deeply about their ailment. Such adequate information will enable the doctors to attain accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Still under communication, clerks must always make sure that patients’ data are correctly recorded. Pine (2019) explains that “…clerks engaged in calculations related to two qualitative aspects (employed to determine which data was accurate in the face of ambiguous, conflicting, or missing data) …” (p. 545). The statement denotes that incorrect diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes may result from inaccurate data, which might be harmful to the health of the patient. When a patient is treated for the wrong diseases, they stand a higher chance of developing health complications or even dying instantly.
Likewise, it is critical for medics to have meaningful conversations with patients to address their problems and give them the information they need. Kwame and Petrucka (2021) confirm that “effective communication is a two-way dialogue between patients and care providers” (p. 9). Kwame and the colleague assert that it is crucial for patients and doctors to communicate effectively in order to promote reliable trust, improve patient comprehension, and enable the appropriate sharing of medical information that improves treatment. Attaining treatment accuracy for better general health care outcomes is mostly realized if the communication is perfect.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Thirdly, effective multidisciplinary teamwork frequently leads to favorable patient outcomes. Clerks, nurses, doctors, and security workers must all work as a team for the patients to get the best services they deserve. Valaitis et al. (2020) confirmed and concluded that “Primary care and public health collaborations can strengthen community-based primary health care…” (p. 2). Valaitis and colleagues said that marginalized groups, including those socioeconomically disadvantaged or with little access to medical care, could get greater access to medical treatment through successful multidisciplinary teamwork.
McGuire et al. (2022) expound more on the same that trust, respect, and team members’ cohesiveness, which also entail good communication, are the major requirements for any teamwork. McGuire and his fellows add that collective efficacy, such as a common confidence in the team’s capacity to have a positive influence, is another great example of effective characteristics of team functioning.
Patient Safety
Fourthly, positive outcomes for patients fundamentally depend on ensuring patient safety. This can be looked at from different angles, such as proper medicine delivery and steps to prevent infection. Janitorial and maintenance employees play a key role in ensuring cleanliness and safety in healthcare premises. Amicizia (2019) reports that poor sanitation has been related to the spread of diarrheal illnesses, including cholera and dysentery, as well as typhoid and intestinal worm infections. Due to this fact, it becomes important to recognize the pivotal duty of the cleaners and janitors in health facilities and their contribution to fulfilling positive outcomes in patients.
Lee et al. (2021) elaborate that most cleaners majorly use disinfectants, which are hazardous but effective in preventing the spread of pathogens. For cleaners to avoid such critical complications, they have to adopt protective measures. Abdali and Yu (2021) propose that “Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines…recommended the routine use of N95 respirators, surgical masks, isolation gowns, eye protection (goggles/face shields), and gloves” (p. 555). Therefore, as the cleaners and janitors do their best to achieve positive patient outcomes, they should also be mindful of their welfare.
Conclusion
In summary, this literature analysis identifies some substantial elements that lead to excellent patient outcomes in healthcare settings. Ensuring patient safety through adequate sanitation techniques by cleaners and janitors is critical since it prevents the patients from contracting unhygienic diseases during treatment. Patient-centered care has increased patient satisfaction and treatment results, making the patients’ recovery journey easier.
Effective communication between healthcare practitioners and patients is paramount for proper diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, good interdisciplinary cooperation can lead to greater access to healthcare for underrepresented populations as well as better overall patient outcomes. By addressing these integral elements, healthcare systems can improve patient outcomes and deliver high-quality treatment.
References
Abdali, S., & Yu, J. (2021). Occupational dermatoses related to personal protective equipment used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dermatologic Clinics, 39(4), 555-568. Web.
Akdeniz, M., Yardımcı, B., & Kavukcu, E. (2021). Ethical considerations at the end-of-life care. SAGE Open Medicine, 9, 1-8. Web.
Amicizia, D., Micale, R. T., Pennati, B. M., Zangrillo, F., Iovine, M., Lecini, E., Marchini, F., Lai, P. L., & Panatto, D. (2019). Burden of typhoid fever and cholera: Similarities and differences. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 60(4), E271–E282. Web.
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Lee, S. J., Kyung, M., Leung, C., & Hong, O. (2021). Gender differences in experience and reporting of acute symptoms among cleaning staff. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 64(6), 1–10. Web.
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Pine, K. H. (2019). The qualculative dimension of healthcare data interoperability. Health Informatics Journal, 25(3), 536-546. Web.
Pirotte, B. D., & Benson, S. (2023). Refusal of care – StatPearls – NCBI bookshelf. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Web.
Sarbaz, M., Monazah, F. M., Eslami, S., Kimiafar, K., & Baigi, S. F. M. (2022). Effect of mobile health interventions for side effects management in patients undergoing chemotherapy: A systematic review. Health Policy and Technology, 11(4), 1-20. Web.
Tariq, R. A., & Hackert., P. B. (2023). Patient confidentiality – StatPearls – NCBI bookshelf. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Web.
Valaitis, R. K., Wong, S. T., MacDonald, M., Martin-Misener, R., O’Mara, L., Meagher-Stewart, D., Isaacs, S., Murray, N., Baumann, A., Burge, F., Green, M., Kaczorowski, J., & Savage, R. (2020). Addressing quadruple aims through primary care and public health collaboration: ten Canadian case studies. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1-16. Web.
Wardle. C, (2022), What are Patient Outcomes? Web.
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