In today’s modern health industry, hospitals typically provide interprofessional care involving many different roles. While this allows medical centers to improve patients’ lives holistically, it does present some challenges.
Is the patient approaching a student when he or she needs a doctor? On any given day, patients may encounter several healthcare professionals with different roles and from a wide range of disciplines, including trainees from graduate medical education.
Can new employees identify who the Licensed Vocational Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses are? Role clarity is important to staff efficiency and patient safety.
This problem may seem small at first glance, but it can impact clinician-patient relationships, staff communication, and ultimately, patient satisfaction. Clearly, it is something that should not be disregarded.
Fortunately, the solution is as simple as it is effective: using badge buddies. Medical centers need to understand its benefits to enjoy them to the fullest.
What is Badge Buddies?
Badge buddies are role-recognition cards made from synthetic paper. They display clearly the role of an employee, using large fonts backdropped by bright colors. They are being used in sports arenas and many other industries but are most popular in the medical field.
Several brands offer a wide selection for clients to choose from, from vertical cards to horizontal cards. There are templates for every role, from RNs to paramedics to doctors to medical assistants.
Custom printing is also available. It helps accommodate unique titles that pre-made cards could not.
Role Recognition
In the hospital setting, there are situations where both patients and healthcare professionals need to act swiftly. These are sporadic cases, but when lives hang in the balance, every second count.
One way to ensure that things flow smoothly in the hospital is by knowing who is who. This is applicable to both patients and healthcare providers. Role recognition will allow patients to approach the right staff at the right time or for employees to be more productive.
Better Customer Relations
Many patients do not feel comfortable in hospitals, which is understandable. One way to ease their apprehension is by putting a face on the position, especially when it comes to the staff. This is where badge buddies come in.
This system allows patients to verify if they are talking to the right person, making it easier for them to get the help they need. It also helps build familiarity that leads to a more personal patient-staff relationship.
Better Branding
Using badge buddies, you can display titles prominently with large prints and bold colors. It helps make it easier to distinguish between personnel levels so patients know who is helping them. This level of attention to detail is a good sign for patients with a certain level of expectation. It exudes an air of professionalism, helping build the hospital brand image and increasing patient confidence.
Final Thoughts
Today’s healthcare system is team-based. It involves a lot of moving parts that function together seamlessly like clockwork. In this ecosystem, much attention must be given to role clarity. It can be linked directly to patient safety. Several regulatory bodies require medical trainees to inform patients of their role in the caring process.
While there are many ways to enhance role recognition, the simplest solution is often the best. That is why using badge buddies is one of the most popular options for identifying the roles of healthcare providers. They are readily available and easily customizable to fit the unique needs of each hospital. When worn, they are very prominent and could easily be identified by patients, even from a distance. They are an investment that every hospital should make.
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