Improving Health Care Facilities - Term Paper Example

Improving Health Care Facilities In this day and age, many health care facilities are still lagging behind service advancement. Perhaps due to various inabilities caused by different factors. However, each of these limiting factors has a possible countering technique but lack of knowledge facilitate them remaining the same way. I happened to visit a health care facility within our community where I observed that services did not reach the expected level. To begin with, the reception area was crowded since the queues moved so slowly. The fact that most patients required urgent attention triggered a feeling of inconveniences when one looked at the queues. In some cases, patients paid other people to queue on their behalf as they waited for their long-awaited turn to see a doctor. Later on when my turn came, I realized that the long queues were as a result of mismanagement and disorganization at the reception desk. The facility is still using manual filling and patient allocation system to the relevant doctors. This made the attendants at the reception look exhausted hence disinterested in what was happening. The communication channel in the facility can well be described as inefficient. The receptionist shouted the patient name when their turn came to be attended. Other than triggering noise making in the facility hallway, it caused confusion as everyone tried to enquire the owner of the name. In response to such situations, telecommunication application in this facility can best improve their services for instance, installation of microphone communicators. The communicator effectively ensures that the information passed by the reception attendant systematically flows to all hallways in the facility. Consequently, its application ensures organization at the reception since each individual hears their name from wherever they are without much struggle. In effort to reduce the queues, the health facility needs to appreciate the advancement of technology such as the use of computers. Other than reducing the workload at the reception, it organizes the facility’s data in such a manner that each patient’s data appears by the click of a button (Russell, 1927) . Moreover, most facilities now utilize the resources offered by the digital advancements hence offering better services to the respective clients (Julie, Miller & Horowitz, 2010). On the other hand, application of certain frameworks with the intent of improving the facility’s processes best achieves the improvement objective (Teicholz & Ikeda, 1995). However, focusing on the management of the Information Technology department (IT), the frameworks call for critical assessment first. As a recommendation, the management can start with adoption of technological advancement to increase the efficiency of their department’s services. At the outset, advocacy of installing surveillance systems by the management of the Information and Technology department greatly improves the facility’s processes. It simplifies yet improves the efficiency of supervision in the facility. This way, monitoring the employee’s activities becomes easier since it does not require personal presence. In addition, monitoring more than one sector at a go becomes possible when using screens in the IT department. Moreover, network connection done from the IT department would not only enhance the facility’s processes but also augment improvement of communication channels. Application of such network frameworks contributes towards better performance of the facility by simplifying process performances. In the patient monitoring section for instance, these networks monitor the patients performance continuously hence avoiding person to person contact between the patient and the nurse. Therefore, installing these networks means that the facility reduces personal check-ups every now and then. Thus, personal attendance only becomes essential when the machine signals an emergency in a particular patient. In addition, such a framework guarantees organized communication channels between all sectors of the facility. Utilization of such a resource directly influences better management by linking all departments together hence propelling the whole facility towards achieving the set objectives (Teicholz & Ikeda, 1995). Evidently, adoption of digital and technological advancements by the Information and Technology department improves the services offered by the health service provider. Furthermore, it keeps health service provider on edge with the newly advancing technological advancements (Institute of Medicine, 2001). Consequently, the better services offered contribute to attracting more customers. A robust configuration of the management database sets pace to better performance of the entire health service facility. This is because it enhances the service provider’s organization hence initiating a forward movement. In relation to the local health service provider in consideration, such a stout configuration consequently resolves management obscurities present (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, 1996). Most importantly, the management database configuration increases the facility’s efficiency services delivery to the patients. Accordingly, the new management database reduces subjection of the reception attendants to manual allocation of patients using hard copies, which at times are difficult to keep track of. Therefore, other than the effective allocation of patients to their respective doctors, their data will also be safely stored in digital form. Such an improvement stimulates better provision of services in this specific local health service provider. Furthermore, such a full-bodied re-arrangement of the management database would trigger the need for more additional employees. Taking such a step diversifies each employee’s obligations hence better performance since each employee has his or her own tasks. Some think it initiates disunity in the organizational set up but with a better management database, the set goals are achievable within a shorter time. In conclusion, it is evident that the health care service provider I recently visited needs a lot of input to become better. All these recommendations have the intent of increasing efficiency service delivery. Their implementation would ensure all the patients receive sufficient medical attention within the shortest time possible. In the case of in-patients, the monitoring systems ensure that they are on observation each second that elapses as opposed to person to person contact that can happen once or twice a day. Conversely, the outpatients receive quality treatment from the moment they set foot at the reception. Furthermore, the improved management database makes certain that the patients data is a click away. In case a patient visits the health service provider in future, finding their information will not be as tasking. Lastly but yet importantly, these factors ensure that the employees are attracted to their jobs hence they provide the best service to the patients. References Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. (1996). Guide to effective health care Telecommunicationss. Chicago, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Institute of Medicine. (2001). A New Health System for the 21st Century. Crossing The Quality Chasm, 1, 4-9. Julie, K. J., Miller, S. H., & Horowitz, S. D. (2010). Improving the Safety and Quality of Patient Care by Recognizing and Improving the Systems in Which We Work. System-Based Practice, 8, 1-34. Russell, L. B. (1979). Technology in hospitals: Medical advances and their diffusion. Washington: Brookings Institution. Teicholz, E., & Ikeda, T. (1995). Facility management technology: Lessons from the U.S. and Japan. New York: Wiley. Read More