Curtis Scott Johnson

I interviewed Mary Johnson who is the Coordinator of Medical Staff at the Texas Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. She gave me a different view on trends in her field of employment that greatly influence the health and well-being of sick clients.

1.      Facility. When the hospital facility is not up to date, the patients are not able to receive the best care possible. Many issues in their hospitals arise due to the need to update old practices and technology. It is very important to stay current with the progress being made in the medical field. Making these changes will increase the quality of care given to those in need at your facility.

2.      Employee Engagement. Mary said that when you are in a leadership position, no matter how big or small, you must engage your employees. Talk to them and let them know that they are important. This even goes for the cleaning staff. Every employee in a hospital contributes in some way to the experience and healthcare that the patient receives. By engaging all employees and helping them feel that their contributions are important and necessary, the overall effectiveness of the hospital greatly increases. Social capital is very important for all employees of your facility.

3.      Patient Experience. Many hospitals and facilities are patient centered; they do their best to make the experience as good as possible for those patients who seek care there. It is important, however, to look at the experience as if from the patient’s eyes. As we try to see things from their perspective, we will be able to identify ways that we can improve the overall experience and care given to the patient. The experience of the patient is from start to finish, from the time they first come to the facility, until the time that they are completely finished with their treatment. When considering the patient experience, we must see the complete result or outcome.

4.      Employ Skilled Healthcare Providers. When managing a healthcare facility, it is very important to have skilled healthcare providers. One of the biggest issues in providing healthcare is malpractice. If we hire employees who follow current, modern protocol and always meet expectations, we will be able to help more people have a better patient experience. They will feel better about their situation, they will have received the best care possible, and they will be on track for a quicker, more complete recovery.

5.      Healthcare Costs. The cost of healthcare is a major issue for many people today. There are those who simply do not have insurance, and those who still have high fees with insurance. Mary said that many times patients are not able to pay for the care that they need and deserve. When this is the situation, they often seek care elsewhere, or not at all; seeking care elsewhere typically means a cheaper, and less effective alternative. It is important for hospitals to be honest and reasonable with fees to try and make sure that they are able to help more people.

These five things are affecting the health of patients seeking care at hospitals in Dallas. As these issues are resolved and constantly evaluated, patients will be able to receive better care and health.