Going to the hospital is already a sign that things are bad. Patients who arrive at the hospital with an injury are likely to be in great discomfort as it is, and it will only add insult to injury if the waiting rooms are in poor condition. Patients should be able to feel comfortable, calm and taken care of while sitting in the waiting room until they receive medical attention. Below are some reasons why medical offices need to better accommodate injured patients and how they can enhance their experience by improving the quality of waiting rooms.
Why Accommodate Patients?
The most obvious answer is to this question is, “Because they are hurt and came to the right place for help.” There are, of course, different types of patients with varying degrees of medical needs. Some patients come with an illness, while others come in for a routine check-up. There are differences between non-emergency patients and those who need help right away. Patients who arrive at the hospital with an injury are more likely to need accommodation straight away, and part of offering that immediate help is providing a comfortable waiting room. Immediately lowering a patient’s anxiety when they arrive at the hospital is overall beneficial to their health, and this can be done through small adjustments to the waiting room.
Comfortable Seating
A comfortable chair goes a long way in allowing patients to feel accommodated. Statistics say that it’s typical to experience pain for months or years after an injury. When a patient visits the hospital with a broken leg or a back injury, they’ll need a plush seat to rest while filling out their in-patient forms and waiting for a doctor to call them. You can also rearrange the seating so that there is more room for patients to move around in.
Keep the Waiting Room Tidy
Nothing is more stressful than a cluttered waiting room. If there are magazines for patients to look at, rearrange them or stack them up so that the space looks decluttered. If there are outdated magazines, replace them with the latest issue. Small forms of accommodation are important to help patients feel welcome, safe and nurtured. When patients get to the hospital, they’re already in distress, so try to bring them small measures of comfort with a comfy chair and interesting magazines. This can help them to shift their focus to something other than their pain.
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