Whiteboards
A Simple Way to Improve the Patient Experience
For an effective, low-cost way to improve patient experience and boost satisfaction scores, look no further than a whiteboard. A whiteboard in the patient's room is an anchor point, full of essential details to keep patients informed and engaged throughout their stay.
And engagement is a big deal. Getting patients involved in their care leads to independence and empowerment. Engaged patients are better at self-care and following treatment plans. When they become an active partner, patients experience fewer complications and their outcomes improve.
An Evidence-Based Anchor Point
In post-discharge surveys, up to 57% of patients were not able to name any member of their attending care team. While this may seem odd, it is certainly understandable. Shift changes and seeing multiple specialists can make it hard for patients to understand who’s who on their care team. Pain and medication can also create barriers to understanding.
Whiteboards serve as an “anchor point” and make a big difference in a patient’s ability to recall information.
A Guide Through the Hospital Journey
Helping patients recall information can be a tremendous relief for them. When surveyed, over 95% of patients said having a whiteboard in their room was not only helpful, they actually read it often.
Information on the whiteboard should include:
The current date
The names of the people on the care team
Scheduled treatment and medication times
When pain medication will be available
Another idea is to allocate whiteboard space for the patient to supply information, like their preferred name or their caregivers’ names. In fact, encouraging active participation by the patient leads to higher engagement scores, bringing many benefits.
To involve patients in whiteboard communication:
Explain its purpose.
Record the patient’s questions on the whiteboard.
Use the whiteboard for education and supplement it with pen-and-paper instructions. Provide printed materials to extend bedside education. Patients feel more secure knowing they will have a reliable reference at home.
Ask what else the patient would like on the whiteboard. Is there information you may not have considered that would be helpful?
When used well, a whiteboard becomes a cost-effective guide. Increased satisfaction is only one of the potential benefits.
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