I am just a front line worker. I am just a front line worker who cares about my patients.
I do not have all of the answers to our healthcare challenges, but I have a lot of questions and I want to be apart of the conversation. Do you want to join me? This is one of the most common questions I reflect on:
How do I show my patients I care in the very small amount of time I get to spend with them?
One of the biggest challenges I face is the limited time to directly provide care to my patients. Instead of resisting a system I cannot change right now, I have had to discover what matters most to my patients and what would make their time with me feel valuable and progressive.
I have learned as a caregiver and as a practitioner that patients want to feel heard and want to trust that their concerns or questions are being addressed.
I find that the key to showing my patients I care is in the follow-up.
Chances are, most health providers are dealing with this same crisis – lack of time with your patients. However, if we all worked together to communicate about the needs of mutual patients, that is providing excellent care.
This continuity of communication reassures your patients that you care about their needs even when you are not physically present.
It demonstrates that care is still given beyond the time alotted and that their healthcare team works comprehensively. Hence, by the time you see your patients again, it is likely that you could move forward in achieving their next desired goals.
Lack of follow-up, means stagnancy. It means wasting valuable time. Such critical breaks in communication could result in patient dissatisfaction, heightened risk to patient safety, and increased strain on the healthcare system.
There is simply no more time to waste. It is time to take action now. How will you follow-up?
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