Develop caring moments for patients

by Scott Kashman and Joan M. Odorizzi As we go about doing our particular work each day, it is important to create personal and caring moments for our patients and each other. These moments are part of your daily or weekly work. In a "caring moment" you would intentionally choose words and actions that send a message to another and enhance their well-being. In other words, an employee can give a patient a warm face cloth before eating, and that in itself is a good thing. You can create caring moments by talking with the patient and sharing why you are doing so. Tell them you are doing this especially for them to help provide some comfort during this difficult time. Caring moments take only seconds of time and have a lasting, goodwill effect on someone else. Your intent to create these moments changes good experiences into meaningful and caring moments. For example, we are upgrading our linen for our patients. If you do not talk with patients about this linen change, they would never know the linen has been upgraded for their comfort. By sharing we are using resort hotel-quality linen held to medical standards and upgraded the linen for their improved comfort, we have been more intentional. We also will ensure they provide feedback so we can measure the overall effect after a trial period. We want our patients, staff and physicians to know they have a say in the linen and impact on the overall experience. Patients certainly have many caring moments or moments of tru...
Source: hospital impact - Category: Health Managers Authors: Source Type: blogs