5 Ways Hospitals Can Use to Increase Patient Comfort

How Hospitals Can Improve Patient Comfort

Hospital admission for most patients sounds like a nightmare, mostly because of the numerous medical procedures and medication they have to take, along with being surrounded by ailing people.

However, if hospitals had taken the time to ensure that patients were comfortable, perhaps this would not be the case.

So, what can hospitals do to ensure patients remain comfortable throughout their stay? Here are a few useful tips.

1. Explain the Procedures

You would think that comfort is all about ergonomics and furniture, but the truth is that the first thing that needs to be done to improve patient comfort in a hospital setting has nothing to do with that.

Rather, it concerns medical practitioners explaining procedures in detail to their patients.

patients may often be anxious about their diagnosis in this era of the internet, where they might have googled their symptoms.

As such, physicians need to explain everything to help them relax.

In explaining, the physician should also stop frequently to find out if the patient has any questions since they may be too shy or nervous about bringing them up.

2. Regular Room Checks

Most hospitals have a call light that patients can use to let the staff know they need attention. The call lights often come in the form of bedside buttons that signal the nursing station.

However, some patients may use the call lights for needs that might not always require immediate medical staff attention. Others will not use them at all, even if they are in dire need.

To counter that, hospital staff need to check patient rooms regularly.

This ensures that patients who need something and cannot use the call lights are catered to and those who misuse it don’t feel the need to press the buttons unnecessarily because the medical staff will come in often.

3. Check Air Quality and Temperature

Patients in hospital rooms can be extremely uncomfortable when a room is too hot or cold. They may find it uncomfortable to constantly shiver or feel sticky from the humidity around them.

You also want to remember that patients cannot easily change their clothing or grab a blanket.

In that regard, medical staff should regularly check room temperatures to increase patient comfort. The quality of air in patient rooms also needs to be checked.

Air filters and dehumidifiers can improve the air quality in hospital rooms, especially for patients who suffer from allergies and respiratory conditions like asthma.

4. Elucidate Bed Adjustments

We all know that hospital beds are not the same as those at home and laying on a hospital bed is not as comfortable as laying in your bed at home.

Hospital beds have adjustable settings that allow patients to lie down, incline, or sit up as needed.

The only problem here is that the patient probably doesn’t know how to control and adjust their hospital bed. It would, therefore, be great if the medical staff at the hospital explained and demonstrated that to them.

When patients learn to adjust their beds, they have more control over what feels comfortable.

5. Encourage Inpatient Activity

Since we are talking about beds, think of how you get out of bed when you wake up. It may take some time for one’s muscles to adjust after extended periods of lying down.

Now imagine being in a hospital bed for days, weeks, or even months.

It may be comfortable at first, but staying in one position for a long time can cause discomfort and a reduction in muscle mass, which can then lead to bedsores.

Bedsores, also known as pressure ulcers, can develop on the skin from prolonged pressure due to lying down or sitting in the same position for extended periods.

Of course, mobility can help increase comfort. Some patients are immobile and cannot change positions for themselves; that is where the medical staff at hospitals come in.

By coming into patient rooms regularly to turn them over or helping them engage in some physical activity, they help boost comfort levels.

Conclusion

Besides the medication and medical care that patients receive at hospitals, it is also paramount that they remain comfortable throughout their stay. Hospitals and medical staff have a huge role to play in guaranteeing that.

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