In a world where our lives are more public than ever before thanks to social media, privacy has become an increasingly valuable and fiercely guarded commodity. Many patients prefer to keep their medical condition(s) private for a number of reasons. And while health care privacy laws abound, many medical practices still miss key opportunities to meet this need of their patients.
- When patients come into your office, do they have to sign in on a sheet with the names of other patients? If so, why not develop a system to greet and “sign in” each patient personally. At the least, have them sign in on a label and then immediately remove the label before the next patient arrives to sign in.
- When the time comes to “call” the patient back, does your nurse or medical assistant stand in the doorway and call out the patient’s name? Instead, why not take a cue from restaurants and issue each patient a pager upon signing in? Or if your practice is small enough, walk up and personally invite the patient back.
Simple steps that demonstrate to your patients that you respect their privacy and value them as individuals. What are some other ways you can ensure privacy?