When you need to go to hospital, you may go to the closest hospital or the hospital where your doctor practices. But which hospital is the best for your individual needs? Unfortunately, not all hospitals provide the same care, practices and professionalism. In an emergency, if you have a life-threatening situation, you will usually go to the nearest hospital. However, if you’re planning to have a baby or surgery, or if you have a condition like heart disease and know you may need hospital care in the future, you will need a good understanding your choice. You may also have conversations with people who have been patients at a hospital and hear about their experiences. When making this very important decision consider the following tips:
1. THE HOSPITAL SAFE AND RELIABLE
Apart from the general rules of personal protection and not being harmed, you also want to feel safe knowing that there are enough staff on duty with the right attitude, skills, knowledge and experience? This will also include that Staff keep checking any possible risks on your well-being. For example, they look out for signs that your health could be getting worse and then take the necessary steps to improve it.
The hospital is clean, and you notice that staff make sure that the risk of infection is as low as possible.
In the unfortunate event that something goes wrong with your care or treatment, the hospital is transparent and investigates how it happened and why. You also receive an apology and the hospital informs you what it will do to improve and stop the same thing happening to other people.
You notice that particular care is taken to make sure that children, young people and adults who may be vulnerable are kept safe from any potential harm. This may include security doors on selected wards or proof of ID before entering the ward.
To the best of your knowledge, you know that your hospital records are complete and accurate, and they are stored securely to keep them confidential.
2. The hospital is EFFECTIVE and effecient
Being effective means that Staff have access to the information they need to help them manage your care, such as your medical records, and they help you to understand your treatment.
Staff understand and know what you need to keep you as healthy as possible. This includes making sure you have enough to eat and drink and making you as comfortable as possible.
When necessary, you are always asked to give your consent (permission) to your care or treatment. Staff will patiently support and advise you to make decisions if you need them to.
3. THE HOSPITAL IS EMPATHETIC AND SYMPATHETIC
You feel that the staff support and care about you and you are treated with dignity, kindness and respect.
In order to reduce your anxiety, your care, treatment and health condition are explained to you in a way that you can understand. They patiently respond to any questions and keep you and your family informed.
The Staff are sympathetic and empathetic when you need help and think ahead to plan what you might need.
You are treated with dignity and have enough privacy when needed.
Empathetic staff help you and those close to you to cope emotionally with your care and treatment, and they help you to keep in contact with your friends and family when necessary.
4. The hospital is RESPONSIVE and APPROACHABLE
When planning your care and treatment, the staff think about your individual needs and respond accordingly.
The hospital is willing to adjust where possible to consider things such as your age, disability, gender, and any other sensitive issues within policy and procedure of the hospital.
Within reason, and sticking to hospital rules and polices, you can use services at times that suit you.
The hospital makes every effort to avoid long waiting times, delays and cancellations. Staff keep you informed about any changes or disruptions that may affect your treatment.
You feel comfortable and have access to make a complaint or raise a concern. If you do, the hospital takes it seriously, responds quickly and makes any necessary improvements.
5. The hospital is WELL-LED and aCCOUNTABLE
From what you can see in the surroundings and the attitude of the staff, providing safe, high-quality, compassionate care is critical to the people in charge at every level of the hospital. They do not compromise on quality, professionalism and affordable healthcare.
The hospital is transparent and listens to your views and concerns. They welcome positive and negative feedback to improve the way it provides services for their patients and doctors.
They are also innovative and continuously implementing solutions to provide excellent quality health care.
The hospital is visibly investing in people, infrastructure, technology, as well as society
At the ReviewA we are very aware that sometimes, choosing a hospital is as simple as picking the one closest to you, the one where your doctor works or the one that accepts your insurance. It's important to remember that not all hospitals are created equal and that they vary in quality and have different strengths and weaknesses. So, if you have an option of where to go for care, the above tips could assist you in making the best decision for you or a family member.
Should you have any further advice on choosing a hospital, then feel free to comment and share your valuable tips. We look forward to hearing from you.