Patients are expecting better service from physicians and hospitals. Compounded by the new quality measures that are heavily weighted on patient experience, hospitals are recognizing the need to make changes. If patients don’t report a positive, comfortable or reassuring experience, then providers’ quality scores decline, and it negatively affects reimbursement payments.

What’s changing?

The patient experience is a combination of both environment and equipment. A 2015 study of veteran women reported that environmental elements were critical to having a positive experience. At the same time, quality and current technology should be a standard expectation.

Environments

In women’s health facilities, substantial modernizations are being made. Many are looking at how their women’s healthcare environments can improve both quality and environmental criteria so that they meet the public and private sectors’ expectations.

Larger hospitals are renovating their space, but it’s an expensive undertaking. You’re also seeing it in the design of new mobile units, too. There is much more emphasis and attention on creating a more feminine environment, particularly through color palettes, tone, texture, and lighting. The goal is to have the female population feel more comfortable and relaxed. Ultimately, the traditional clinic setting is not as appealing to women during a mammography or gynecological exam.

Equipment

Today, in terms of equipment, the biggest debate is 2-D versus 3-D and whether the additional expense is worth it. The trend is creating a lot of interesting discussion. Equipment, in general, is a factor that contributes to the overall patient experience.

It’s difficult, though, for hospitals to continue to chase the newest trend or the next modality, especially when a new and improved version of your cutting edge technology is likely already in the works. Smaller hospitals are getting out of the business for just that reason. They’re choosing to use a mobile service in order to avoid the risk of not being able to provide the most positive experience for their patients.

In addition, many don’t have enough volume to dictate spending money on the newest technology. It simply doesn’t make sense to have a mammography unit at the hospital. It does make sense, however, for a mobile unit to be at their location once a week that can provide both components to create a positive experience.

Could a mobile service help your hospital?

While renovation might be the right choice for some, using a modernized mobile service unit could be the smart choice for others, especially when it comes to women’s health. From helping large hospitals with high capacity issues, to serving the smaller hospital communities with access to state-of-the-art equipment, the added value they provide could help raise your patients’ positive experience level and ultimately your provider quality scores.