Sometimes a little extra TLC can go a long way. The goal of the healthcare industry is to take care of people in their most vulnerable times. No matter what reason they are at the hospital for, it’s a healthcare professional’s job to make sure they are healing and getting better. A lot of time the need is focused on the physical aspects of one’s health, but what about the mental? Patient care is more than just physical, oftentimes it can help people heal and get back to their normal selves. Showing love, compassion and support can kickstart a journey to health and recovery. Sometimes all people need is to feel cared for. The little things really make a difference in the healthcare system more than you might realize.
“You can never show your patients you care enough. As a clinician, you are seeing them in their most vulnerable state, so it’s important to go the extra mile for them. These can be simple things like painting someone’s fingernails to help them feel more like themselves, or reading a book to a child so they can have a little sense of normalcy while they are in the hospital,” says DoorSpace Co-Founder Brian White.
Going the extra mile for patients doesn’t actually have to take up more time in your day. In order for patients to work through their mental recovery, they need to feel seen and heard. Spending time in your shift to get to know them as people and who they are can help establish a sense of trust that is often lacking throughout the industry. Taking time to have real conversations with your patients can help them feel comfortable in a place where their vulnerability is put on full display. Instead of doing the bare minimum for your patients, it’s time to go above and beyond for their health.
“Taking care of patients does not always mean direct medical care, their mental and emotional well-being are also vital to their recovery. Taking a little time out of your day to spread a little love and happiness helps build meaningful connections and can help patients feel valued,” White says.
Sometimes this is easier said than done. The healthcare industry is complex and there are often a lot of moving parts. Most times, clinicians have to spend their shifts not fully focused on their patients and instead are spending time completing other responsibilities. Frontline employees might be spending countless hours on paperwork or other managerial tasks, instead of having the opportunity to do the little things for their patients. How can they possibly go the extra mile if they are bogged down with tasks that can be easily automated?
That’s why it’s up to healthcare leaders and organizations to invest in giving more time back to their employees. Minimizing distractions such as paperwork can give them more time in their days to connect with patients and actually help them heal. Technology has advanced enough to take on these managerial tasks, by automating the process so that real employees can focus on more complex issues. This not only ensures the health of patients but also the well-being of those employees who make sacrifices every day. How can patients be taken care of to the highest level possible, if their doctors do not have enough time in their shifts to focus on helping them heal? Technology and other resources are helping the healthcare industry get back to its main goal.
It’s not brain science that connecting with people makes a difference. Being in the hospital can be scary and overwhelming for patients, and having that social connectivity can help them feel more comfortable in the space they are in. Having conversations, playing games, or doing small activities with your patients can help them feel valued and cared for. Healthcare is both physical and mental, and the little things truly go a long way.