The Importance Of Quality Care

In the healthcare field, it is important to understand the patient’s perspective. When we understand the patient, only then can we give the patient the best quality care possible. Quality care incorporates both patient care and patient safety practices that ensure that the patient will have a comfortable, non-stressful visit under your care.

First, It is important to understand that many patients have severe anxiety when in a medical facility. The patient may be in a lot of pain, afraid of the procedure, alone with no family support, or scared of being in an unfamiliar environment where they are not in complete control. As healthcare providers, we sometimes forget to truly care for each individual patient. The goal is to simply “get through” all of the exams for the day. With the hustle and fast pace in the hospital/clinic setting is easy to get sucked into this mindset. Over time technologists in the field become goal oriented instead of patient oriented. They know what they need to get accomplished and do whatever it takes to get it done as quickly as possible. Sometimes, this is at the expense of the patient.

It is always important to remember patient dignity. This can be done through remembering patient modesty by providing two gowns instead of one; one to cover up the front and one to cover up the back and by making sure that the blinds or curtains are drawn while the patient is dressing or undergoing a procedure. As technologist, we have the responsibility of respecting and preserving the patient’s modesty. “All people value their bodies, and expect that it be respected in a professional manner” (Gurley 166). The degree of modesty can vary. Some are extremely modest while others are not. It is best to assume that all patie...

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... is important to wash hands before and after every patient as well as wear gloves. Also available are alcohol-based hand rub that can be used IN ADDITION to washing hands. This hand rub should not be used as a replacement for washing hands. The CDC also mentioned that there were reported incidents with staff wearing artificial nails ( Newhouse and Poe 19).

In conclusion, it is essential to remember the patient’s perspective when assisting them in a procedure. Only then can we better serve our patients. We hold an incredible amount of power in our hands. We must be able to balance accomplishing our imaging tasks, while providing the best quality care possible, and ensuring the highest standards of safety practices. It is all about the patient, and once that has been forgotten then little slip ups turn into catastrophic events. The power of the future is in our hands.