How To Enhance Healthcare Systems By implementing human factors in healthcare

Healthcare professionals are the most talented and highly trained set of conscientious professionals all across the globe. The entire world has witnessed millions of healthcare professionals working as the frontline warriors during the recent Covid-19 pandemic that has completely changed the lifestyle of entire humanity.

Despite the training and zeal to deliver the best care possible, there can be negative outcomes due to several reasons. Researchers have established that implementing human factors in healthcare can bring about a massive improvement in the industry.

Five factors

There are chiefly five human factors that can aid in enhancing the service in any industry. These are:

1. Physical
2. Cognitive
3. Cultural
4. Social
5. Emotional

It is time to know how these factor scans integrate into the healthcare industry and help the medical professionals impart better treatment procedures to the patients.

Improving patient’s safety and satisfaction

Mental health is always a strong supportive factor to ensure good physical health. If a patient is not feeling well at the clinic or hospital, the person will start complaining about several issues, and the health condition will also deteriorate.

• Doctors and specialists have to use their social and cognitive factors to communicate with the patients individually. It is essential to ask the patient what discomforts the person is feeling apart from the symptoms for which the patient is under treatment.
• Any person under treatment feels lonely and vulnerable, especially when at the hospital. The entire medical team has to make the person believe that the individual is safe and will get better soon.
• Is the patient receiving satisfactory treatment? Well, of course, the doctors can argue that the patient can’t judge the quality of medical care. But if the medical professionals communicate warmly and let them know about the positive health updates and routine visits, then the patients will always feel mental satisfaction.

Sometimes, the lack of mental satisfaction of the patient or the family members of the patient becomes the reason for allegations against the healthcare provider.

Communication is crucial

The job of a doctor does not include only the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases in a person. Communication skills are, in fact, one of the vital aspects of a medical professional.

• Doctors should explain the symptoms and causes of the disease to the patient before explaining the treatment procedure.
• If the medical professional is suggesting some procedure or surgery, it is mandatory to explain the procedure thoroughly to the patient along with the complete revelation of the risks and benefits. The doctor can proceed only when the patient gives consent.

To avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary harassment for failures at the operation theatres, maintaining the cordial communication level with the family of the patient is necessary.

Generating effective solutions

Sometimes, conventional treatments do not work for some patients; innovation is the key in the medical industry as medical researchers try to find unique ways of treatment. But to generate an effective solution, the doctor has to understand the condition of the patient.

For instance, if a soccer player is about to lose the lower limbs owing to an infection, the doctors will have to think rationally and discuss with the athlete. If there is some way to save the legs, but the legs won’t have the same level of strength ever, the doctor has to see whether the patient accepts the compromise or wants the amputation to eliminate further health risks.

Mitigate the risk of error

Implementing human factors in healthcare is also important while designing the tools and instruments for operations and procedures. The engineers have to keep in mind the condition of the patient who will undergo such a procedure.

• The design of the tool should be such that it won’t leave any scope of error for minute surgeries like those involving the nerves.
• If the design of the instrument adds to the discomfort of the patient, then there should be modifications in the design. The chief aim should be to mitigate any risk factor or discomfort for the patients.

There will be fewer cases of failure or negative response to treatments unless the conditions are genuinely critical with the minimum chances of error.

Optimizing training

Do you know what ate the most common forms of human error in the medical industry? The common ones include

• wrong drug administration,
• drug overdose,
• negligence in monitoring,
• wrong time of administering medicine, and
• drug to the wrong patient.

With the implementation of all the human factors, it will be possible to optimize the training process. Medical treatment is not a mechanical job. It has a human side which is the stronger side too.

Medical professionals should learn to respect the humane aspect and avoid preventable errors by developing the innate skills which are present in every human being. Once the doctors become compassionate and logical, the patients will also develop and sense of trust and respect that aids in better treatment.

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