4 years ago
The people working in the facility were uniformly ...
The people working in the facility were uniformly kind, considerate, animated rather than appearing to be barely aware they were talking to a reasoning, emotionally involved patient. We weren t treated as something to get through. There were no side, personal communications between staff.
So often, the patient is ignored or delayed by staff talking about dinner, dates, their personal concerns while the patient is ignored. That DID NOT HAPPEN AT YOUR FACILITY.
I do suggest that if there is an interruption in taking the next patient or in their current dealings with a patient...address the need for this and assure the patient the interruption will be brief. This is true in the back section also in receiving. The patient doesn t need to be given specifics. Just something like, I know you ve been waiting. I m sorry for the interruption. I ll make it as quick as I can. Saying this with eye contact snd s caring face will lower frustration and let the patient know the person caring for them is aware and cares. When the line is long/slow and at least some of the patients are physically challenged by having to wait in that long or slow line, it would be nice if someone assisted that line or at least let people know that the facility is aware of the long wait and will work as quickly as they can.
I m physically handicapped with extensive spinal issues. Being required to stand there struggling to remain standing even though I was using my cane, was a significant hardship. (My line went past the entrance door, past it and up to the window) Anyone who actually looked at the line should have noted I was struggling and offered to have me sit until it was my turn.
The patient is already tired of long waits/lines. They patient has some degree of stress regarding the need for the test, the outcome and how long they must wait for the outcome.
Unfortunately, patients are prone to take out their stress on that hardworking employee. The patient/customer, is NOT Always right. The focus must be on Giving the patient what they have a right to expect.
I believe in making those small changes will help reduce stress and lower the number of times a patient will act out because of that stress. The changes will help defuse the situation. It s also simple courtesy. I believe the changes will benefit the patients AND the employee by reducing stress and confrontations.