Online reviews are now a part of virtually all industries, from restaurants to retail and everything in between. It’s not surprising, then, that the healthcare industry is not immune to this growing trend. Whether you’re a small business or a large hospital system, online reviews are going to affect your reputation and ultimately your...
While operating rooms generate the highest revenue, these are also where most waste and supply costs come from. About 20 to 30 percent of hospital waste comes directly from the OR. Waste materials vary and are comparable to what’s disposed by different industries. Apart from surgical waste, disposal is needed for facility operations-related waste,...
Research conducted by the American College of Healthcare Executives revealed top hospital issues. The list was presented from the highest to lowest rate. In 2016, the order is as follows: Financial issues Government mandates Patient safety and quality care Staffing concerns Patient satisfaction Access to care Doctor-related issues Population health management Technological challenges Organization-related...
While there’s no doubt that federal healthcare programs are beneficial for everyone in need of financial assistance with medical expenses, government funding can only allocate a limited annual budget for this purpose. This is why reimbursement is subject to approval; and with individuals taking advantage of the system’s loopholes, funding is further reduced. It’s...
Several studies have proven that accreditation programs contribute towards healthcare services’ quality. One specific piece of research – which utilized numerous databases including Medline, Embase, Healthstar, and Cinhal from 1980 to 2009, and covered varying medical conditions including pain management, infection control, surgical care, trauma and more – have concluded that accrediting bodies contributed...
Nurses are directly involved in almost all aspects of hospital quality, including patient care, bedside and medication management, assistance with surgeries and other major operations, data collection/reporting, and more. Furthermore, nurses are directly responsible for monitoring and assessing patients, and performing immediate interventions to reduce risk or prevent medical complications. Nurses also oversee other care...
The rising number of deaths due to medical errors have necessitated the implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs), to improve safety and care in hospitals. In a report by the Commonwealth Fund, the United States ranks amongst the least satisfactory when compared with other first world countries on the issue of medical safety. Automating...
With such a great number of languages, the U.S. healthcare scene faces some challenges with patient care. However, communication technology can certainly surmount these challenges. A census in 2000 showed that more than 47 million in the U.S. speak a language at home other than English. The number of citizens who have limited English proficiency...
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has come a long way since its inception in 1969. The agency has evolved and acknowledged the potential of medical informatics. It has awarded more than $250 million to support over 150 projects in this field. The AHRQ is tasked to research the importance of Information Technology...
Patient care and medical technology are always evolving and improving; this is why training and development doesn’t end in school. Further education is required, and part of it needs to be accomplished within the hospital itself. Importance of Training Despite a busy and fast paced work environment, medical facilities need continuous training for employees – particularly...