Health Care

Mystery Shopping The Healthcare Industry A Must For Patient Retention

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Mystery shopping the healthcare industry may strike some as counter-intuitive. Medicine and commerce have traditionally been mutually exclusive endeavors, but as medical practices consolidate and look more and more like regular businesses, patient retention becomes a growing factor.

The era of crotchety doctors and long waits in DMV-esque waiting rooms is drawing to a close, and many healthcare providers have embraced reputable mystery shopping firms as a partner in improving the patient experience. Here is what they are measuring:

Healthcare providers audit the appointment setting process.

Medical offices are typically a beehive of activity, and this is often reflected in the poor quality of the phone conversations we have with receptionists and other staff. Mystery shoppers are most often asked to audit the following, when calling to set an appointment with a medical practice:

Was the staffer courteous and helpful?

Did the staffer gather the required patient information?

Did the staffer ask how the caller learned of the practice?

Did the staffer tell the patient what to expect at the visit?

Did the staffer offer directions to the office? Did the staffer confirm the appointment details?

A good firm will ensure all calls are recorded so the client can hear how the call went.

Hidden video is becoming more prevalent for healthcare mystery shoppping, and gives an objective diagnosis of how your office is performing.

Healthcare providers audit the office visit.

Once the patient arrives at the office, there are many things that can affect the quality of the visit. Mystery shoppers audit everything from parking lot to the office and back. Here are the most commonly audited aspects of a medical visit:

How difficult was it to find the office?

How was the patient greeted?

How long was the check-in process?

Were the appropriate forms completed?

What was the wait time?

What was the condition of the waiting room?

How long did the patient wait in the examining room?

Were nurses and doctors friendly?

Did the doctor follow procedure in explaining the diagnosis?

Were options given?

Reputable firms offer mystery shops in the following types of healthcare practices:

Family practices

Pediatrics

PT/OT

Obstetrics

Dental

Orthodontics

Hospitals

Immediate care clinics

Cosmetic Surgery practices

There is a trend towards using independent contractors in many of the settings listed above. It is especially important to audit these situations, as there may not be as strong an allegiance from hired guns than from permanent full-time employees.

Healthcare Expenses Increasing Faster than Personal Revenue

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According to the Commonwealth Fund, health insurance costs are rising faster than personal income in all 50 states. Deductibles and other out of pocket expenses continue to go up, while incomes are going down. The Commonwealth Fund’s study discovered several reasons for the rise in health care costs over recent years. Among the findings, it was discovered that employers are charging their employees higher costs to participate in health care plans. In addition, deductibles have risen 98 percent since 2003. This means that most people will have to pay for their own healthcare costs out of pocket for a greater length of time before their coverage kicks in. in addition, total premiums that employees pay annually average $3,721.

This news hits close to home for many Americans who are dealing with other economic problems already. With employment rates mostly stagnating, foreclosures going up, student loan debt reaching one trillion dollars, and incomes going down, it’s not getting any easier for most Americans to stay financially solvent in these trying times. For many Americans, the rise in health care costs is beginning to make the very idea of survival economically prohibitive. .

Many Americans, on the other hand, are being forced to discover creative new ways to pay for their health care costs. For example, some individuals whose incomes are preventing them from getting covered may take out short term loans in order to meet rising medical costs. Many short term loans are available, each coming with its distinct set of pros and cons. Payday loans, for instance, are one of the most popular types of short term loan. However, for most Americans they’re not a feasible option for paying medical costs since they are usually only for a small amount and come with a short repayment period. This may influence some to turn instead to collateral loans, which offer a more robust amount in exchange for some piece of the borrower’s property. One type of collateral loan that’s becoming increasingly popular is called a car title loan. Motorists may find these to be a better option than other short term loans since they typically charge lower interest and come with longer repayment periods. Consumers who are interested in more information about car title loans can access sites such as and

While there may be more than one way to skin the cat of health care costs, one thing is certain. Americans are going to need to take all the financial help they can get as health care costs continue to make themselves out of reach. It’s simply irresponsible to live without health insurance, even if you find that it takes a chunk out of your discretionary income. To pay for ever rising health care costs, Americans will just have to budget more wisely.

Managing Healthcare Activities Through Healthcare Educational Courses

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Healthcare industry in India is growing fast which has made people to be more and more health conscious so that they can have healthy living for themselves and their family members. Medical facilities are also getting smarter as per the latest technologies, which cater to specific needs of the patients. This has in turn given rise to the demand of healthcare professionals who can manage the burden of healthcare related activities and provide timely service as and when required. Various institutes have launched healthcare management education courses that make the students to understand the importance of healthcare industry and its allied services. Courses are designed accordingly which give detailed understanding of the job role of executives involved in this sector.

The basic idea of all the courses lies in making the students to understand that the healthcare is not just related to hospitals it is now related to pharmaceutical companies, diagnostics, information technology, medical equipments manufacturing and supply as well. PGD Health Care Management course gives thorough understanding of management techniques applied in hospital and healthcare organizations. This course does not limit the study to mere medical terms; it gives broad vision and takes the thought level to different direction which includes management skills. The duration of this course is ten months. By doing this course one can expand the job opportunities as well. Aspiring executives should scroll down the job portals that offer lucrative jobs offers in clinics, healthcare associations, nursing homes, hospitals, consulting firms, rehabilitation centers, colleges, universities and many more areas.

Simultaneously MBA in Health Care Management prepares the students with the solid background of effective management skills. They also have ample of chance to in various sectors apart from healthcare industry. Multinational companies are in search of doctors; consultants who are carry out or supervise wellness programs run for the wellness of their employees. Management course trains the students to plan and implement new innovations which helps in providing solutions to the pain areas. These courses are specifically designed to handle all the activities that lead to customer satisfaction. These courses acquaint the students with managerial activities i.e. business administration, stock management, healthcare services, pharmaceutical management by giving them leadership experience.

Graduates or final year students with background unrelated to medicine like engineering, commerce or economics can also opt for these courses. MBA in Health Care Management course is designed with international standpoint which in turn increases the chances of getting the jobs worldwide. Person with sound knowledge can earn a faculty position in hospital administration department in medical colleges or health institutions. PGD Health Care Management course also imparts training on utility services and quality management. It also notifies its students with National health policies. Health institutions also run workshops, seminars and presentations which help the students to discover the current stage of healthcare industry. By being part of these workshops candidates get a chance to meet various healthcare industry specialists.

The Future Of Healthcare Industry

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Healthcare Application Services have widened the domain of healthcare and greatly contributed towards improving health. How exactly? Read more here.

The Future of Healthcare

Doctors can be replaced by software 80% of them can. Id much rather have a good machine learning system diagnose my disease than the median or average doctor.

– Vinod Khosla, Rock Health Innovation Summit

Do you share the same thought? Well, we wont be surprised if you do. No doubt, healthcare is the brimming concern worldwide. Since health is such a sensitive issue, the healthcare industry is constantly impacted by regulatory changes, evolving healthcare standards and innovations in technology.

To provide unique healthcare consulting, strong healthcare domain knowledge, understanding of healthcare workflows and standards, and expertise in range of new and legacy technologies is extremely crucial. In the recent times, mobile solutions like wearable devices have gained prominence. Healthcare application services have been greatly benefited with such innovative solutions.

According to McKinsey & Co. in 2010, the global market for mobile health was worth about $50 billion, with $20 billion of that in the U.S. alone. ABI Research estimates that sales of wearable wireless devices would top 100 million units per year by 2016. The creative use of sensors, mapping and mobiles could change the way we think about the very nature of health itself.

Healthcare research is, by its very nature, a long and laborious process. An application project may take years of iterative development and testing. Its software development is key aspect a developer deals with while developing highly cost-effective solutions. Gaining competitive advantage is what a client looks at while choosing an app for his establishment.

The way the health system looks at behavioural change has been quite static in many areas of medical practice. Diagnosing, providing medication and waiting for the result so that the next step could be taken or further sickness could be determined- is the old school process which has been followed from a long time. This is a weakness that the healthcare industry has been constantly trying to eradicate through healthcare software development and healthcare application services.

Healthcare consulting has also evolved as a significant field owing to rapid changes in the industry. In todays scenario, an average patient is privileged with better avenues of self diagnosis and consequent medical treatment. Overall, it is essential for all stakeholders in the industry to continuously monitor new policies and regulations, as well as to strive for innovative new developments in order to improve patient care.

Bim-led Prefabrication An Effective Way Forward For Healthcare Mep Projects

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Designing and planning for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems for healthcare facilities brings with it a set of daunting challenges for the entire MEP (M&E) fraternity. Considering the project complexities, stringent building codes, healthcare standards, local regulations, and constricted deadlines, MEP (M&E) designers and contractors are always walking a tight line.

Whilst building information modelling (BIM) techniques at the design stage may improve interdisciplinary MEP coordination, help detect design clashes and streamline scheduling/costing in the preconstruction phase, very little is known about how BIM-led prefabrication of MEP systems offsite can help enhance quality, save time and money, and optimise the logistical flow on site. The BIM design data, embedded in the MEP models, can be used to create fabrication drawings by either using traditional detailing or using fabrication softwares (AutoDesk Fabrication). These drawings display fabrication details which can be directly recognised by the CNC machines for production purposes.

One of the most challenging engineering systems to design, healthcare facilities house a range of medical and therapeutic departments to treat different illnesses. Each of these departments has its own set of requirements for HVAC, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems as well as plant areas. So, whether the hospitals MEP system demands HVAC systems with precise humidity control, temperature, and indoor air quality (IAQ) standards or custom isolation for operating rooms, the information rooted in the BIM 3D documents can enhance modularisation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems.

Some other MEP components which are specifically used in healthcare facilities include sprinklers, fire suppression systems, high-pressure steam boilers, direct-expansion (DX) cooling systems, and tamper-proof receptacles. As it is well known in the AEC industry worldwide, BIM is a change in approach which brings together all the discipline-specific professionals during the pre-construction phase. On the contrary, the traditional design-bid-build approach lacks coordination between the concerned disciplines.

Accordingly, when MEP (M&E) designers, consultants, and fabricators use BIM for prefabrication of MEP components, the benefits are worthy. Besides, the modularisation of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems in a controlled environment and installing them on site is highly effective considering its cost savings, quality improvements, labour efficiency, waste reduction, and in-time completion benefits.

Considering the complex nature of MEP (M&E) systems in healthcare facilities and an increase in adoption of BIM, prefabrication and modularisation will offer more productivity and efficiency gains to MEP (M&E) designers, contractors, manufacturers, fabricators, and installers. Modern prefabrication technologies along with integrated project delivery (IPD) can certainly lead to greater predictability, timely project completion, and increased cost savings.