How to Improve Patient Experience With the Right Equipment

Improving the patient experience in healthcare is a priority for many hospitals, clinics, and private practices. But what does this mean?

The patient experience, as we will discuss in more detail, is complex. One important factor that is often overlooked is medical equipment. The right equipment like exam tables, patient chairs, and more can help enhance the care experience when it comes time to receive treatment.

Read on to learn more about how to improve the patient experience in healthcare with the right medical equipment.

Elements of the Patient Experience

The elements of the patient experience may change slightly depending on the setting. But According to the Agency For Healthcare Research and Quality, the patient experience encompasses the range of interactions that patients have with the healthcare system.

The patient experience begins with their first interaction with your clinic. In most cases, it’s when they schedule an appointment either over the phone or online. It continues on to their time spent in the waiting room, interactions with healthcare providers, and extends to when they are discharged and any after care or follow ups.

While each patient touch-point is important, their experience in the exam room should be emphasized. Patients expect high-quality care, efficient treatment, and knowledgeable staff. The right medical equipment plays an essential part at this touch pount to create a comfortable environment and can lead to improved patient satisfaction.

How The Right Equipment Improves The Patient Experience

It’s widely known that prioritizing the patient experience is a major step in moving toward patient-centered care. Here are a handful of the ways the right medical equipment can help improve the patient experience in a clinic, hospital, or private practice.

Enhances Patient Comfort

The right equipment can instantly improve patient comfort. Improving the patient experience in a hospital or clinic is all about creating a welcoming environment. Gone are the days of sterile, cold exam rooms with metal tables and chairs.

Investing in the right procedure chair or exam table can help put your patient at ease during their procedure. Comfortable cushions, smart positioning, and better upholstery are ideal. Additional medical equipment, such as heated drawers, go a step further to help improve patient comfort when it comes time for treatment.

More Accurate Diagnoses

It’s no secret that investing in the right medical equipment can also improve patient outcomes. For instance, the experts at Midmark explain that fixed-height examination tables can have a negative impact on the quality of care a patient receives because they limit and restrict patient access.

This barrier can have devastating effects for patients. Midmark continues the report explaining that 44% of practice administrators acknowledged that when examining a patient with disabilities, parts of an exam were skipped when a barrier was encountered.

When a physician cannot perform a full, proper examination due to barriers, a patient may be misdiagnosed or certain conditions may be missed. Accessible exam tables like the Brewer 5700 FLEX Access Exam Table help improve the quality of care and accuracy of diagnoses, especially for patients with disabilities or mobility limitations.

Improves Provider and Patient Safety

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, private industry hospital employees face a higher incidence of injury and illness than employees working in other industries traditionally considered dangerous, such as manufacturing and construction.

Improving the patient experience in an emergency department or hospital starts with better equipment. Many exam tables and procedure chairs come with safety features such as safety switches that help prevent injuries to staff and patients. The experts at Brewer provide more examples of how the right equipment can improve patient safety.

Streamlines Procedures

New equipment can also streamline common patient procedures. Easy-to-use equipment can easily position patients to provide better provider access to treatment sites. Some procedure chairs can even store common patient positions at the touch of a button.

These features can help streamline patient procedures while still prioritizing a high quality of care.

Treat More Patients (More Availability For Procedures)

Specialized equipment for your practice can improve the patient experience by allowing you to treat more individuals. Recent research found that outpatient surgery rates have grown by over 40% in the past ten years, and that number is expected to rise with more improvements in technology.

The right procedure chairs, like the UMF 5016 Podiatry/Wound Care Procedure Chair, can streamline outpatient procedures and allow you to efficiently treat more patients in a day. This reduces wait times for treatment and improves the patient experience.

Shop ExamTablesDirect for the best medical equipment to improve the patient experience at your practice, clinic, or hospital today. Learn more about our medical equipment delivery service options!

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