The patient experience is a big part of modern healthcare; accounting for the thoughts and feelings of individuals receiving care in a way that hasn’t been done in previous generations.
Before we can explore this subject though, we must first define patient experience.
What is patient experience?
Patient experience is what a person encounters during their care journey; from first interaction with a doctor or nurse, to diagnosis, through to treatment, and then on to aftercare; either within a hospital setting or discharged for observation back in a home or community setting.
Virtual wards are the newest addition to this patient journey, offering a form of hospital at home to allow a more hands-off experience in the familiarity of a home environment whilst still being monitored by top of the range equipment communicating patient vitals in real-time, and having routine check-ins with doctors and nurses.
Many organisations will be wondering how can the patient experience be improved. In this article we will walk through why patient experiences matter and how to enhance the patient experience. We will touch on the two main areas – healthcare software and staff – as well as the ways organisations like the NHS can implement support structures or frameworks to make sure the patient experience is being actively considered with all planning and actions.
Green social prescribing is an example of a pillar of social prescribing that concentrates on helping individuals improve their health and wellbeing through harnessing nature-based activities.
The introduction of green social prescribing escalated because of the Covid-19 pandemic. But since then, its growth has stagnated, predominantly due to limited awareness of its impacts.
It is estimated that with continued growth, it can save over £635 million for the NHS through reducing health inequalities and providing alternative mental health support for children and youth people, as well as adults.
But how does it work? Who funds it? And most importantly how can individuals take part?
This article we explain how green social prescribing works and how it has developed, why it is important, examples and outcomes of different green prescribing pilots, as well as the challenges and barriers to be aware to ensure you can implement the best green prescribing project possible.
All in One vs Best of Breed is an argument about software and establishing a system of solutions. In this instance it is about how health and care providers should go about purchasing and implementing software to help with patient care and other services, and how best to build up that integrated system of solutions so the care workflow is as smooth and efficient as possible.
The two sides to the debate are as follows:
All in One: A single provider with multiple solutions is the best option, because it makes integration and implementation easier as you deal with one organisation.
Best of Breed: Multiple providers means you can choose highly specialised solutions, giving you the best tool for each requirement and a less complex deployment. It's important to maintain a balanced relationship with providers, and multiple solutions helps prevent any single group from exerting undue influence or control over you.
The important thing is quality, above all else. There are lots of healthcare organisations across the UK providing a wide range of services. They need good software solutions that can handle the variety of hospital or community care services provided on a daily basis. Customisation, scalability, real-time access, interoperability… all of these things are what will enable world-class care and allow the most efficient care processes.
In this article we will tackle terminology, like convergence and interoperability, so that you can properly understand the ambitions of the stakeholders involved. We will then explore both sides of the argument, covering the advantages and disadvantages of each, to determine which approach is the most beneficial to healthcare organisations.
In today's economic climate, managing finances can be challenging and traditional pay cycles often leave individuals strapped for cash, especially as the pay cycle is ending.
This can often lead to many resorting to high-cost credit options to make ends meet. These high-cost credit facilities often impose extreme interest rates and fees, exploiting individuals in vulnerable financial situations. These predatory practices are known to exacerbate financial hardship and contribute to a cycle of debt that can be difficult to escape.
- Topic:
- Payments
Every time food spoils in your fridge or too large a portion of a side dish is prepped, you're not just throwing away products – you're throwing away potential profit.
The average restaurant sees a significant chunk of its revenue disappear due to food waste. In fact, a staggering 21% of that waste comes directly from spoilage, while another 45% results from preparation inefficiencies, as reported by WRAP. These are areas where smart inventory management can make a massive difference.
It's something we hear a lot at Access as a familiar challenge for many businesses in the hospitality industry. With the right tools and strategies, restaurants can streamline their inventory, gain control over waste, and unlock hidden profits, which is what we will focus on in this article.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
The Access Group provides the latest legal compliance news for law firms and solicitors in the UK.
See all updates:
Register for the webinar series
- Topic:
- Legal
The importance of GDPR compliance has never been more relevant, but it can be tricky to know where to start.
Assigning data privacy training throughout your organisation is crucial for maintaining GDPR compliance and ensuring that employees grasp the policies, procedures, and general best practices.
In this article we are going to talk about how to be GDPR compliant no matter the business size, discuss accountability and answer the question ‘what is a data protection impact assessment?'
The dream of a bustling restaurant that fuels many aspiring restauranters usually consists of happy customers, delicious food, and a thriving business. Yet, focusing solely on the big picture can lead to overlooking essential components, such as a well-designed menu, efficient inventory systems, staff training, and a well-managed kitchen.
Restaurant kitchens are notoriously demanding, and a recent study found that 25% of UK chefs cite poor kitchen management as a major contributor to burnout and high turnover. Since the industry is already plagued with staff shortages, operators must focus on keeping and hiring skilled kitchen managers to ensure the well-being of their staff and the success of their business.
At Access, we've spent more than thirty years helping hospitality businesses improve their workflows and achieve their full potential and we understand that effective management is a core pillar of success.
Kitchen management is a skill that can be learned and mastered, and in this article, we'll dive into the essential strategies to optimise your kitchen and achieve your business goals.
- Topic:
- Hospitality
Social care consultancy, or write policies and procedures yourself, use template services, or use fully digital solutions. There are now more options than to create, manage and maintain policies and procedures in your care service, but you’re probably wondering which one is best for you?
Many care providers have find themselves in a similar situation, and there are now more options than ever to develop and manage your policies and procedures. So to help, I’ve written this article.
Care policies and procedures are essential to registering and operating a care service anywhere in the UK. You need to keep your policies and procedures up to date; with regulations, legislation, best practice and the manner in which your service operates. Failing to do so could land you in hot water with your regulator, and could even impact the quality and safety of the care you provide.
Reducing hospital admissions and the dependency on primary, secondary, and emergency care is a huge priority for health and social care professionals. Many organisations, hospitals, and NHS Trusts are looking to find new ways to reduce admissions as well as reduce re-admission after discharge.
With over 500,000 patients experiencing emergency admissions last year and over 42,000 of them waiting over 12 hours to be admitted, more action is needed to find better methods to prevent hospital admissions and re-admissions, including unnecessary admissions.
Shifting from reactive care models to preventative ones is one method that is being used more frequently. Many different preventative and early intervention methods can be used, but which are the most effective?
At The Access Group, we want to help local authorities, primary care, secondary care, and NHS Trusts to reduce the increasing demand by using effective population health management to reduce health inequalities and deliver more targeted support for at-risk patients of continuous re-admission.
This article will review why admissions are on the rise and the impact this has on the individual as well as the wider health and social care market. Ways to prevent hospital admissions will also be discussed to help you deliver better coordinated, person-centred, and preventative care that always concentrates on the individual.
