When working in healthcare, your number one goal is to do everything you can to treat your patients. However, while doing this, you also have to ensure they’re comfortable in their surroundings. You must take certain steps to increase the comfort your patients feel at your healthcare facility. If you don’t know where to start, we’ve put together a few techniques for you to try out.
Create a Cozy Environment
The first step in making someone comfortable is to create a cozy environment. Comfortable beds, temperature control, and overhead music are just a few things that can make a difference in how the room feels. You can also put the lights on a dimmer and set up an essential oil diffuser if you think that’ll help them relax.
Of course, depending on the facility you run, you’ll need to take certain things into consideration. For example, you must be careful what you give to patients in a behavioral health facility. Fortunately, certain furniture options can create both a safe and cozy environment. One of the many benefits of molded plastic beds is their ability to function well for both the facility and its patients.
Allow Overnight Guests
One thing that makes a hospital room feel so dreary is the lack of friendly faces. That’s why one of the best ways to increase a patient’s comfort level in your healthcare facility is to allow guests to spend the night with their loved ones. This is especially important in the first few nights, as the transition to living in a hospital temporarily might be a bit much.
Even if you allow this, though, you’ll still need to make some accommodations for the guests. Giving them a chair to sit in and maybe a pillow and blanket in case they fall asleep will make both parties much more comfortable throughout the night.
Give Them Things To Do
One of the worst parts about staying in a hospital is the boredom that comes with it. TVs are a fairly standard inclusion for hospital rooms these days, but not all patients are bedridden. Many of them can get up and move about, so offering them things to do, such as puzzles, cards, or board games, will help pass the time and make them more comfortable.
If a doctor prescribes it, you can also allow your patients to use cannabis. You just need to ensure they have a dedicated place for using it.
Reduce Bureaucracy When Possible
It’s no secret that the most stressful part of any hospital visit is all the paperwork that goes with it. Whether it’s signing consent forms or dealing with billing information, it can be overwhelming. Obviously, this is unavoidable, but combining parts of the paperwork and handling as much of it ahead of time as possible will make it less intimidating.
