Imagine preparing to go through a colonoscopy for the first time. Would you be nervous about the procedure? What questions would you have? With health information available through countless channels today, savvy patients are turning to everything from Google searches to friends and family to research and manage their care effectively. As competition intensifies in the healthcare industry, providers recognize the need to deliver a great patient experience along with high-quality care. That’s why many are making patient education a priority, improving patient satisfaction and comfort as well as clinical outcomes.
In a study of more than 2,500 colonoscopies, patients who received education beforehand about the procedure were more likely to arrive prepared on the day of service[1], helping to minimize last-minute cancellations that can harm patient relationships and profitability. A separate study found that first-time colonoscopy patients who participated in more robust education were much less anxious the day of the procedure[2].
Partnering with your anesthesia provider on patient education
From the first consultation to the final follow-up, providing relevant education each step of the way can help GI-focused ambulatory surgery centers win patient trust and loyalty. Your anesthesia management partner should support those efforts, sharing need-to-know details that prevent reschedulings, boost patient comfort and build strong provider-patient relationships.
Here’s how an anesthesia provider can help educate and empower your patients throughout the care process.
- Before the procedure. Discovering the day of a colonoscopy that the patient’s diabetes medication isn’t compatible with the planned sedation is a recipe for patient unhappiness. By participating in pre-op calls, an anesthesia provider can educate patients about the proposed sedation and ensure all cardiac clearances, records requests and other paperwork is complete. Understanding all aspects of the procedure is a major satisfaction driver for patients undergoing colonoscopies[3], so having an anesthesia provider address questions about sedation beforehand also can help patients feel more comfortable.
- The day of the procedure. When it comes to keeping patients happy in the OR, good bedside manner is key — patients rank the “personal manner of support staff and nurses” as one of the most important parts of the colonoscopy experience.[4] As propofol becomes the standard at many GI-focused ASCs, your anesthesia provider should take the time to teach patients how the drug works and why it results in a safer and better endoscopy. By explaining the sedation and answering questions immediately before the procedure, your anesthesia provider can ease patient concerns and create a positive experience.
- After the procedure. Educating patients about their financial responsibility as well as their care wards off misunderstandings that can jeopardize patient satisfaction. CarePlus offers a unique approach to this very important step in the process. In addition to being acutely involved in the pre-op process through patient education and managing expectations about the procedure and effects of anesthesia, we actively interact with all patients after the day of service to make sure we are managing their expectation regarding the billing process and measuring patient satisfaction.
Educated patients are happier patients. As a full-service anesthesia management provider, CarePlus is committed to educating your patients throughout the care process — and much more. Our highly skilled, professional anesthesia providers ensure clinical safety, improve efficiency and throughput, and deliver patient comfort and satisfaction.
Isn’t it time to boost patient satisfaction at your center? Take the first step: Click here to contact us today!
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[1] “Online Educational Video Improves Bowel Preparation and Reduces Need for Repeat Colonoscopy within Three Years,” The American Journal of Medicine, November 2016
[2] “Web-Based Patient Engagement Lowers Anxiety for First-Time Colonoscopy Patients,” Healthcare Informatics, November 2013
[3] “Long-term patient satisfaction of gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures,” Annals of Gastroenterology, 2016
[4] “What do patients want from their endoscopy experience?,” Frontline Gastroenterology