The world
is still reeling from the wake of the pandemic. Healthcare players are very
well aware that these are unprecedented times and spells like these require
innovative hospital management tactics that fit the bill.
The
country is heading into the 8th month of the lockdown, yet the players still
need answers and solutions for a plethora of aspects in everyday healthcare
operations such as critical care management, human resources management and
vendor management for hospitals.
Amid the
rapidly increasing healthcare needs, overwhelming service demands, and shortage
of human resources, healthcare players are looking at the experienced healthcare consultants for a partnership that compliments their healthcare delivery
efforts.
Most
hospitals have already adapted to patient flow metrics and are experiencing the
footfalls that are almost equivalent to pre-lockdown numbers.
As much
as it is a welcoming factor for the management, allocating their resources for
the growing needs, managing the infrastructure effectively for covid and
non-covid healthcare delivery is much more than a bigger task without a
strategy in place.
Here is a
step by step guide for the players as to what exactly are the challenges faced
by healthcare players in adapting the new normal and how can they make their
shift seamless. Continue reading.
● Revenue losses - At the end of June 2020, healthcare as an industry was looking at a
whopping 22000 crores of loss in terms of revenue. This is a major concern for
the players to look into right now.
● Patient Acquisition and Retention - Patient acquisition and retention are two of the
most challenging tasks on the table for the healthcare providers. Though the
telemedicine approach is trying to fill the gap, it is never assuring.
● Keeping Up with the Changes - These are unprecedented times and there is no denying. WHO,
governments and healthcare authorities are issuing guidelines that are expected
to be adapted faster by hospitals.
● Juggling Between the Covid and Non-covid Delivery - Managing and training the staff in order to
be able to juggle between the operational tasks is a steep road to climb.
● Shortage of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Shortage of PPE has been one of the major
hindrances that are detaining the efficiency and timely delivery. The growing
gap between the global supply chain touchpoints is a real concern for the
healthcare providers.
The
entire Covid-19 situation is an emergency task ahead of healthcare management.
And, the efficient handling of an emergency situation is simply as good as that
particular hospital’s Incident Command System or Responsive Unit.
Guidelines to Manage Patient Care Better
Hospitals
of all sizes need to have a system in place, if not it is time to create one at
the earliest. A well-functioning incident management system contains predefined
operational guidelines to deal with the clinical, human resources,
infrastructure management, pharmacy, and other essential aspects involved in
effective hospital operations.
❏ Balanced Focus on Essential Care and Covid-19 -
● The care rendering for Covid-19 should not
suppress the critical care services such as critical care, surgical care, and
other regular clinical care.
● Considering the clinical and operational
resources available, list down the healthcare services your hospital can
immediately proceed with and streamline the operations accordingly.
● Continuing the balance between the both wings,
plan and allocate sufficient resources that are in the hospital’s capacity.
❏ Prepare for the Surge in Patient Inflow -
● As the unlocking process eases out the
community more and more, hospitals are needed to be prepared for the increased
patient inflow.
● Evaluate the human resources and logistic
resources and use the clinical data to determine the level of preparedness of
your hospital.
● Take help from the best healthcare consulting firms in order to keep your preparation on track for the surge the players
about to face.
❏ Focusing on the Non-Clinical Aspects -
● Hospital infrastructure plays a major role in
enabling the hospital to continue with essential care and Covid-19 care.
● Plan your facility that is immune to contain
the infections and gives your clinical and operational team a breathing space
to juggle between effortlessly.
● Take extra preventive measures at the
vulnerable spots in a hospital such as laboratories, common areas, pharmacies
and cafeteria.
Precise
and meaningful communication between each team, departments, and all the
stakeholders involved plays a pivotal role in hospitals making a seamless shift
to the pre-Covid-19 operational capacity.
Follow
these guidelines and get in touch with a trusted healthcare consulting firm to
ensure your hospital is ready to handle the upcoming surge.
0 comments:
Post a Comment