Many patients are aware of the various risks and threats they face when they seek medical attention. For example, some of these risks relate to medical malpractice, privacy breaches and more. You understandably want to find a way to keep your patients as safe and secure as possible while providing them with quality medical attention. After all, they need to receive quality health care without suffering from the effects of various risks. These are some of the leading steps that you can take to work toward your goals.
Proper Screening and Credentialing
Each individual who you hire to work in your medical office has a direct impact on your patients’ safety and security. This includes the most skilled surgeon in a hospital to the admissions or administrative staff and those who work in all other positions. Properly screening candidates and verifying credentials during the hiring process are essential steps that you need to take to ensure that your patients receive the highest level of care while their privacy is respected. Hiring third-party medical credentialing services to complete a thorough screening process may be a smart idea.
Cyber Security
Many medical centers and healthcare businesses are making the transition to cloud-based and online activities. This means that patients’ personal and vital information may be at risk through cyber attacks, hacking and other activities. Hiring skilled IT contractors or in-house employees who have experience with cybersecurity to bolster your systems’ security is essential if you plan to digitalize your patients’ activities with your office.
On-Site Safety Practices and Protocol
Keep in mind that patients may also face threats on-site while they are visiting your office for appointments or various types of treatments and services. For example, other patients may become irate and threaten the security of anyone in the venue. Hiring on-site security or having security protocols in place is important. Your staff should know how to handle all threats to patient safety. Medical malpractice is also a serious concern. There should also be verification processes to reduce the chance of malpractice situations. For example, before a surgical procedure is completed on a limb, the patient may be asked to confirm which limb needs to be operated on.
When patients seek services or treatment in a healthcare environment, they understandably except to stay safe in all ways. By following thoughtful steps that tackle the most common threats and risks to patients, you can work toward providing your patients with a superior healthcare experience.