Tips to Ensure Employee and Patient Safety in Healthcare Institutions

Guest Post By: Mike Johnston

Patients tend to think of medical institutions as some of the safest places on earth, and rightfully so, because where could they be safer than in a place where people literally save lives and are trained to take care of you? Unfortunately, many a time medical institutions will not meet the requirements necessary to ensure Employee and Patient Safety, often leading to mishaps and serious liability issues that lead to complex lawsuits and injury claims. This, of course, is a cumbersome problem for managers and business leaders in the sector, as ensuring staff and patient safety is not only important for eliminating hazards, but also for keeping businesses alive.

Fortunately, there is plenty you can do to make your medical practice safe for your employees and your patients, and thus elevate the level of care while improving patient satisfaction, and ensuring compliance across the board. Let’s take a look at the five vital tips that will help you achieve these goals.

Starting with Smart Interior Design

First and foremost, it’s important to note that modern medical interior design should not only focus on aesthetic design but also on the safety and security of all occupants – patients and staff included. After all, you could introduce the latest safety features in every room, but all of them will be for naught if the base design of the space creates hazards. With that in mind, your first order of business is to analyze the design of the space.

Start by making all entryways accessible to patients with special needs. Introduce comfortable and ergonomic furniture, and make sure that there is plenty of room for social distancing and easy maneuvering by wheelchairs, patient beds, and more. Help patients navigate the space with handrails and those long corridors with strategic rest spots. Don’t forget to bring some nature and art into the setting to make the place feel welcoming and restorative.

Create a Comprehensive Health Management System

Next, understand that patient and employee safety requires you to create a comprehensive health management system for the workplace. This is a document and a policy that must come from the top management, as it requires strategic and innovative thinking, but also the input of legal professionals who can ensure that the safety policies are in line with the governing rules and regulations issued by the state. This will minimize or eliminate legal liabilities, ensure compliance across the board, and maximize employee engagement to ensure safety in the workplace.

To achieve this, administrators and strategists need to include top-level managers as well as employees in the process, making sure to take relevant input from on-site personnel on the necessary security features that the workspace needs to have. You need to follow this up with regular safety reviews and audits as well, in order to improve and adapt your strategy quickly.

Pay Special Attention to Lighting Applications

While there are many safety considerations that the board needs to take under advisement, lighting should definitely be at the top of their list of priorities. Every medical institution needs to have top-quality clean room lights as well as proper hallway and patient room lighting to ensure safety, reliability, energy efficiency, and to elevate the quality of care that their staff provides. After all, a well-lit room can make all the difference during exams, surgical procedures, and long-term patient care.

All medical illumination systems must comply with the safety and hygiene standards issued by the local governing bodies, so opting for BUCK lighting solutions for hospitals and healthcare facilities will ensure longevity and improve energy efficiency, as well as minimize energy waste and lower operational expenses. In the long run, the right lighting scheme can save you money, minimize risks, and elevate the quality of your medical practice in the eyes of your employees and patients.

Educate Employees on All Safety Policies

To help create a safe workplace and a top-notch healthcare facility, you have to focus on employee education. After all, your medical and non-medical staff can greatly minimize potential hazards and risks in the workplace, which will invariably improve patient safety and speed up recovery.

Making sure that all of your employees understand and adhere to your safety policies is paramount, which is why you need to organize internal seminars and workshops that will focus on employee training and education in this field. Be sure to take a personalized approach to ensure that every employee understands their duties and requirements when it comes to facility-wide safety and security.

Communicate Safety Guidelines to Patients

Finally, you have to make sure that your patients adhere to the prescribed safety guidelines and rules. It’s important to communicate with patients and visitors efficiently and effectively to allow them to retain information easily and adopt your safety measures. This will ensure that they follow these guidelines meticulously, which will further decrease risk, eliminate potential hazards, and minimize legal liabilities.

Wrapping Up

Running a healthcare institution is a cumbersome task, and if you want to elevate the quality of your care, you have to focus on improving patient and employee safety. Use these tips to achieve these goals and build a medical practice that will serve your community well.

All medical lighting installations must comply with the safety and hygiene standards issued by the local governing bodies, so opting for BUCK lighting solutions for hospitals and healthcare facilities will ensure longevity and improve energy efficiency, as well as minimize energy waste and lower operational expenses.

All images supplied by Mike Johnston.

Author Bio:

Mike Johnston

About the author: Mike Johnston is an avid blogging enthusiast and experienced freelance writer with a focus in real estate, home improvement, and small business.

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