With patient experience as a top priority, some hospitals are applying aspects of pediatric care, such as drawing blood with smaller needles, to improve the experience of hospitalized adults in the United States, reported ABC News.
For instance, the Baptist Hospital East in Kentucky uses tiny "butterfly" needles in the emergency room and intensive care unit to enhance comfort--especially for elderly patients with smaller veins, noted the article.
Also emulating the pediatric community, California's Stanford Hospital has gotten rid of limited visiting hours at its ICU and lets family members stay with patients at any hour. Stanford Hospital administrators even meet regularly with partner Lucile Packard Children's Hospital to discuss best practices, the hospital said in an email to ABC News.
Meanwhile, The Christ Hospital in Cincinnati is taking a cue from Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where doctors invite families to listen in on discussions about their children's care. The hospital now offers a daily group conversation with the doctors, nurses, the patient and their family. "The model allows for stronger bond between doctors, nurses and families," Jeffrey Schlaudecker, a geriatrician, said.
With interactions between providers and patients playing a major role in how patients perceive their hospital visits, Laura E. Hamblin, manager of patient satisfaction at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, Ky., echoed that sentiment in a previous interview with FierceHealthcare. "Consistent rounding on patients and visitors provides staff the opportunity to build relationships with those they serve, which increases trust and positively influences the perception of care," she said.
To learn more:
- read the ABC News article