The healthcare sector has been on the precipice of a digital revolution where mobile technologies are intersecting with patient care to create a new paradigm referred to as “patient engagement.”
The core foundation of patient engagement is to provide the right tools to educate and empower patients, which leads to patients who are more engaged in managing their health – a state of self-efficacy – which ultimately improves health outcomes and drives down overall costs.
While many clinics are embracing new patient engagement technologies, it is easy to overlook what may be the most basic aspect of patient care: providing a healthy and safe care environment. In addition, hospitals need to protect their investment in new eHealth systems by ensuring that the foundational needs of patients are met.
By having a clean and odor-free healthcare facility, patients will automatically feel more comfortable and more positive about the care they are receiving. As many healthcare facilities deal with a myriad of foul odors, it is all too easy to let odor management fall by the wayside.
It’s also too easy to rely on chemical-based cleaners and air care products, which can cause more harm than good to patients and healthcare providers. For example, the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) has offered educational materials to doctors and nurses regarding the harmful effects of chemical-based cleaners.
By developing a sound odor management strategy that focuses on the use of eco-friendly odor mitigation and cleaning solutions, hospitals can provide the safest environments for patients and staff.
In addition, any efforts to invest in new eHeath-based patient engagement solutions can be completely minimized when a patient is confronted with a foul odor. Healthcare providers owe it to their patients and staff to provide a safe workplace, as well as offering environments that allow patients to feel further engaged and empowered in their care.
