What Great, Quality Humanistic Hospital Care Can Teach Us About Running Our Own Businesses
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Every two weeks, as the result of a very rare genetic disorder, I spend the better part of the day in the hematology treatment unit of a local hospital. No need to feel bad…I don’t. In the grand scheme of things, God has blessed me.
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Health-Care and Hospitals ARE Businesses and Not All Are Created Equally! What Are the Implications for Our Own Small Businesses?
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One thing I have learned through experience recently is that not all hospitals are the same, and as a hospital can and must surely be considered a business, not all businesses are equal. Recently I switched from one hospital to another for a short time, and then back to the original. It took a taste of the "not so great" to put into perspective how good I really had and again have it. I thought the closer one would save me time, and as such serve my interests better; I was wrong. I had sacrificed exceptional quality in the name of a shorter commute.
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I believe that from the moment you enter a hospital, it is though you are entering a business, your business or mine for that matter. Throughout the stay, during care and right up until discharge, the same holds true. You are the customer/client of a business.
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What the Great Health-Care Models Can Teach Us About Our Own Businesses:
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Here is my sequence of events which pertains to both a hospital and a business from the moment a client begins services until the moment he or she departs as either a satisfied or dissatisfied person. I believe they are ideals, factors, mentalities and approaches which can be analyzed and incorporated into any business. I have used the valuable lessons they have imparted for mine.
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1) Intake. From the moment one enters a good hospital, a comprehensive assessment is made of the patient (client/customer). In Business the same assessment must be made. Where is the client in terms of well-being? What are their needs? How best can they be served? What are their fears and anxieties? What are their hopes, goals and aspirations? Where do they hope to be…what is their destination? What is the time-frame for a successful outcome?
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2) Listening. In a hospital, as a patient/client it is essential to feel not just that you are speaking, but that you are being heard. In Business we must strive to listen to those who are considering entrusting their services to us. Initially, it is important to keep our interruptions to a minimum. People often have a story they need to tell and letting them do so uninterrupted can usually assist us in getting to the root of the issue. When they have finished, there is plenty of time for clarification and expansion on our part. Let your client communicate!
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3) Development of a plan of action. In a hospital setting a plan of action is an integral component in the restoration of health. Good hospitals recognize that patients are people, enjoy a great deal of satisfaction from personal autonomy, and expect and deserve to be active, not just passive, participants in the plan of action. In Business our clients deserve the same autonomy. They should have an active hand in directionality. The finished product is ultimately theirs. We may have suggestions, input, experience and expertise, but the project, whatever it may be, should adhere to the expectations, desires and wishes of the client/customer.
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4) Regular updates. In a hospital which I considered to be somewhat lacking, I often laid in my bed for hours wondering what the heck was going on. In the other hospital which I consider to be of vastly superior quality, updates were frequent, compassionate, heartening, warm and forthcoming. In Business our clients deserve to be kept abreast of the situation. If the duration of a project is two weeks, an update when the work is completed probably will not suffice. A weekly update might not either. A paying customer deserves to be updated on a regular basis as to how the work is progressing, any changes which arise and any complications which might require his or her input. A daily or every-other-day email or phone call to bring the client up to speed can be a very effective tool which fosters both efficiency and a positive air of cooperation.
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5) Bed-side manner. In a hospital, it’s all about attitude. Are you a case-number? Are you somebody who must be spoken to while the doctors and nurses make rounds just so your chart can be checked? Or are you a human being who is made to feel that you are a person of interest whose feelings, well-being and future are a legitimate concern for the staff? In Business the attitudes which we convey as professionals can make or break a professional relationship. Do we treat clients as a number, a job or a paycheck or do we make them feel that we are invested in their happiness and satisfaction. Going the extra mile to make the client feel human, worthy and of value other than monetary can make all the difference in the world.
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6) Discharge. A good hospital provides a comprehensive discharge. Updates are provided. A final assessment is made. A plan for further treatment and examinations is discussed. In Business "discharge" should mean a whole lot more than handing over a project and the exchange of money. The meeting of expectations should be discussed. Are there any last minute changes which need to be made? Is this a one-time project or might there be a need for follow-up? Did my service meet your expectations? Are you satisfied? Can I count on you to turn to me with any projects or work you might need in the future?
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7) Reputation. In many countries, hospitals are ranked according to quality standards. More than that, they are affected by word of mouth. A satisfied patient (client) will often go to great lengths to publicize the positive nature of their care. Conversely, a patient whose care ranged from sub-par to uncaring to disastrous will speak to others of the negativity of their experience. In Business it is essential to remember that each and every one of our clients has the means to rate the quality of our service both online and by word of mouth. It is essential to strive for satisfaction!
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8) Quality! Whether it is in healthcare or in any small business from catering to gardening, from writing to legal services, there is no substitute for quality! Quality here is an all-encompassing theme. It is in the work which is done. It is in meeting deadlines and expectations. And it is in the way we treat others who entrust us to work for them!
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I have learned, as many of you might have, that in the world of hospitals, there are the average, the not-so-good and the exceptional. I have been a part of all of these. I am now back at the one where I started out…one which is simply GREAT! I have learned many lessons from the treatment which I receive and will continue receiving. But as you can see from this article, treatment and business are about a whole lot more than a simple service….
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It is also about the "human factor!"
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Image Credits: drawing courtesy of clipartguide.com. Hospital sign and doctor with stethescope courtesy of iStockphoto.com royalty-free images.
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As always, "Thank You" for visiting my blog and for taking the time to read what I have written!
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Hello. My name is Yonatan Maisel. I am a professional writer, published author and business-blogger.
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