Your feedback in healthcare counts

Giving feedback is commonplace in all sorts of industries. It is the return of information about a system or process that may lead to desirable changes or optimization of performance.

The medical world relies so much on feedback to inform on patient experiences, and on ways of enhancing better service provision.You should always strive to give feedback following encounters with your healthcare providers. It doesn’t matter whether it’s positive or negative feedback, the principles remain the same.

The aim is to give a fair judgment on what aspect of care was done well, and what could do with some improvements. Don’t go for a fault-finding endeavor,that way your feedback will be skewed. Even the worst of healthcare providers have something good that they do. Aim for a balanced feedback that will accrue some benefits for both you and your healthcare provider.

You can give feedback on any aspects of your care. It may be the ambience in the healthcare facility, the bureaucracy of getting an appointment, the diagnostic processes or even about the staff. You are not restricted only to the medical and nursing staff, everybody else is included ranging from the support staff to the CEO. You don’t necessarily need to be the one getting care. You are allowed to give feedback on behalf of others, say your children or the elderly.

If you find a bubbly receptionist that made your day, simply give immediate verbal feedback. That will enhance your relationships from the onset, boosting your confidence and theirs as the day trundles along. Equally, if you feel aggrieved with the nursing care, mention it pronto. The quicker it’s rectified the better for everyone else. If your consultant makes you feel better already, say so. If a barrage things are not going well, note them down and share them with the appropriate personnel. It can either be in writing or in a scheduled meeting. You can’t keep anything to yourself that may help improve subsequent care for others.

Expect some form of response once you give feedback, especially if it helps improve the service. It may be just an explanation to reassure you about the processes in place. Or it may be a game-changer that might just revolutionize your subsequent experiences with the service. Either way, you will have a sense of satisfaction that your views have been appreciated. You will occasionally come across some healthcare providers who are very sensitive to criticism, even when it’s for their own good.They are a fading lot, and don’t deserve your custom if they are not willing to improve. Shun such healthcare providers and look elsewhere, they can carry on with their misguided ways.

You play the most critical role in keeping the quality of our healthcare services up to speed. Keep your eyes and ears open, and be quick to give feedback whenever applicable.