Humanising medicine is an approach that puts the patient at the centre of the treatment process, taking into account not only their physical needs, but also their emotional, social and spiritual aspects. The humanisation of medicine is about making every patient feel treated with dignity, respect and empathy. This approach emphasises the importance of interpersonal relationships in healthcare and seeks to create more personalised and holistic care.
The role of patient feedback in health care
Patient feedback plays a key role in the humanisation of medicine. Patients who are able to express their views on their experience of medical care contribute to improving the quality of medical services. Feedback from patients allows areas for improvement to be identified and changes to be implemented to better tailor care to individual patients' needs.
The regular collection and analysis of patient feedback allows medical facilities to better understand the expectations and experiences of their residents. This makes it possible to make specific changes that improve the quality of the services provided and increase patient satisfaction.
Tools for collecting patient opinions
There are a number of tools that medical facilities can use to collect patient feedback. One of the most popular is the patient satisfaction survey, which can be conducted either on paper or electronically. These surveys often include questions on various aspects of care, such as communication with staff, quality of medical care, conditions in the facility and availability of services.
Another tool is online platforms and mobile apps that allow patients to express their opinions and evaluate medical services. They allow patients to share their experiences in a simple and convenient way, while medical facilities can respond quickly to any comments and suggestions.
Use of patient feedback in practice
Healthcare facilities that actively use patient feedback can significantly improve the quality of their care. Based on patient feedback, changes can be made to processes that directly affect the patient experience. Examples of such changes include:
- Improving communication with patients: Collecting patient feedback can help identify communication problems between medical staff and patients. This allows interpersonal communication training to be introduced for staff, which contributes to a better understanding of patients' needs.
- Infrastructure improvement: Patient feedback may indicate the need to upgrade the infrastructure of the medical facility, which improves patient comfort and facilitates access to medical services.
- Adaptation of medical procedures: Based on patient feedback, medical procedures can be adapted to make them more friendly and less stressful for patients.
Examples of success through patient feedback
Many medical facilities have succeeded by actively using patient feedback. One example is a hospital which, on the basis of feedback from patients, introduced changes to the organisation of medical appointments, which reduced waiting times for consultations. Another facility, thanks to the analysis of patient feedback, decided to modernise the paediatric ward, which significantly improved the comfort and safety of young patients.
Challenges in implementing patient feedback
Although patient feedback is extremely valuable, implementing it in practice can face some challenges. One of the main problems is the lack of a systematic approach to collecting and analysing feedback. In addition, not all patient feedback is constructive and easy to implement, which may require additional resources and time to adequately process this information.
To make effective use of patient feedback, healthcare facilities need to invest in the right tools and processes to systematically collect, analyse and implement feedback. It is also crucial to involve medical staff in the process of improving services based on patient feedback.
Patient feedback plays a key role in the humanisation of medicine, helping medical facilities to better understand and adapt to the needs of their residents. By actively collecting and using feedback, it is possible to make changes that improve the quality of care, increase patient satisfaction and create a more welcoming medical environment. However, effective use of patient feedback requires a systematic approach, the right tools and the involvement of all medical staff.