Health Archives - Sharon M Weinstein

December 16, 2017 By Sharon Weinstein

Healthcare Marketing…solutions-based

Today’s healthcare system is replete with problems that begin with access and end with outcomes. The communities we serve are more interested in staying well than in being ill, and they are more willing to try alternatives to traditional care as long as there is not out-of-pocket expense involved. So, the publics we serve want it all, at a nominal cost, with good outcomes. How we do that in today’s environment is a challenge as well as an opportunity.

The challenge offers healthcare organizations the chance to move beyond the problem, i.e., limited access, long lines, high costs, using emergency departments for primary care, and more – to become the solution. And how do we become the solution – by empowering the public to assume responsibility for care and their outcomes, by knowing that wellness does not begin in the doctor’s office – rather it begins with the small decisions that we make each day when we buy groceries, order from a menu, pack our kids lunches and more. When we offer solutions, we succeed.

We’ll walk through some of those solutions that are well within our reach!

The customer experience…does anyone ever ask what the customer/consumer/patient wants and expects? Forget the satisfaction surveys and delve deeply. Identify the opportunities that bring participants to your brand. Get it right the first time. Build a winner in this industry by simplifying the process and delivering on your promises. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) created Triple Aim – Population Health, Experience of Care, and Per Capita Cost.

The challenges:

Many organizations work in silos, with no one accountable for all three dimensions of care. By now, most health care organizations and community leaders have heard of the Triple Aim. It’s a multi-dimensional framework developed by IHI to optimize the health of a defined population and improve the care experience while reducing costs. Yet, while organizations and coalitions understand the benefits of implementing the framework, they’re not clear on how to begin the change process — especially when initiatives happen in silos and no one is accountable for all three dimensions.

In the DMV area, the system becomes more important than ever before; access to records and coordination of care to ensure outcomes is imperative. The patient is the driver!

The issues:

Convenience
Communication
Consistency

The trends:

The patient/consumer/customer will become more involved than ever before
The more informed the patient – the better the outcomes
The patient must have an advocate
By 2021, patients may compare their hospital experience rating against those of other hospitals prior to making a choice and choose like they would a hotel or airline
Too many portals take up too much time

The solutions:

Counting reputation
Establishing a laser-focus on experience is critical
Engaging value-conscious patients and consumers
Identifying competencies needed by healthcare professionals
Integrating behavioral health and medical care
Enhancing wellness programs that improve health and reduce costs
Identifying the gatekeeper: not obsolete but more difficult to coordinate care

What are you doing to integrate solutions within your healthcare marketing plan?

June 15, 2017 By Sharon Weinstein

Protect and defend…your voice, that is!

We all speak for a living; we use our voices to communicate, to present, to train, to teach, to inspire, provide customer service, to preach, and to respond. What happens that the voice on which we depend simply shuts down, turns raspy, and no longer cooperates.

Some say that the eyes are the windows to the body; peering into one’s eyes can tell an ophthalmologist what else is happening internally. And, some say that the voice is the mirror to the soul and spirit. When was the last time that you listened to your own voice? Did you sense the clarity? Was there a resonant quality? How did the experience make you feel?

We know our bodies best; when we listen to our bodies, we get unique signals about how we are doing, how we are feeling, and if things are going well. The same is true of voice…if we listen to our voice, we sense how things are working, and if we need to take special steps to preserve our gift of voice!

We all speak for a living; we use our voices to communicate, to present, to train and more. Those of us who use our voices to make a living can suffer from voice fatigue, loss of voice, hoarseness. Perhaps it is time to care for our unique gift – the gift that keeps referrals coming our way and repeat performances on our calendars.

Try these simple tips:

Drink enough water
Avoid irritants including environmental agents or self-imposed irritants like coffee, tea, alcohol, cigarettes, spicy foods
Get sufficient rest; a tired body has a tired voice
Use your voice wisely, project with confidence and care

What are you doing to protect and defend…your voice, that is?

February 9, 2017 By Sharon Weinstein

E is for Engagement…

Nurses are the largest segment of the healthcare workforce and they are at the core of care delivery, safety, and outcomes. In today’s environment, we hear much about the patient experience but think about it – you cannot deliver a great patient experience without great employee engagement.

Are those responsible for providing care in your organization treated as well as those they serve? Engaged employees are energized, committed, action-oriented, problem-solvers, critical thinkers, and innovators. They have a voice, and their voices drive change within the organization. They see, touch, and feel it each and every day. Engagement is woven within the vision, mission, and goals of the institution, and your staff knows it.

A crisis exists today…and that crisis is stress. Regarding of the professional role, stress is usually work-related. We all have the same requisite number of hours in a day – only 24. And yet, we try to extend those hours and make them equal 36 or more. It is virtually impossible, and our productivity demonstrates our failure to adhere to the ‘work day’ as a somewhat normal work day.

A workplace is only as good as how it treats its workers. Today’s employers are constantly seeking ways to assist their workers in managing their job responsibilities and their personal responsibilities and needs. Strategies for work/life balance help create supportive, healthy work environments; strengthen employee commitment and loyalty, and result in more productive workplaces and improved patient outcomes. Nurses are at the heart and soul of healthcare, and yet, they sometimes do not have time for self-care and renewal activities – activities what would make them whole, enhance their well-being, and allow them to celebrate themselves.

Think about what drives engagement! “An analysis of Press Ganey’s national nurse engagement database Dempsey et al, 2015 identified drivers of nurse engagement. Key drivers of nurse engagement in 2015 included:

The organization provides high-quality care and service.
The organization treats employees with respect.
I like the work I do.
The environment makes employees in my work unit want to go above and beyond what’s expected of them.
My pay is fair compared to other health care employers in this area.
My job makes good use of my skills and abilities.
I get the tools and resources I need to provide the best care/service for our clients/patients.
The organization provides career development opportunities.
This organization conducts business in an ethical manner.
Patient safety is a priority in this organization.”

By giving nurses a voice; by providing a healthy work environment, including opportunities for professional advancement and personal growth, today’s health systems will put the E in Engagement – enhancing retention, empowering staff, and enriching the workplace.

November 24, 2013 By Sharon Weinstein

Fatigue – how do you know when it affects YOU?

We all experience it at one time or another, but how do we know when it is in control, and when we have lost control? The death of a young nurse from Ohio was a wake-up call to the health professions and others that long hours, lack of sleep, lack of hydration and more is just not working. So, what is your role in dealing with fatigue? What do you do to overcome the challenge, and is it working for you?

May 28, 2013 By Sharon Weinstein

Forest Bathing

So how do you bathe without water? Exactly what is Forest bathing and why don’t you get wet?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, we learn that – In Japan, a forest bathing trip, called Shinrinyoku in Japanese, is a short, leisurely visit to a forest and is regarded as being similar to natural aromatherapy. So, what is aromatherapy? Aromatherapy uses volatile plant materials (essential oils), and other compounds to improve one’s mind, mood, cognition and/or health.

So why Forest Bathing? We all seek rest and relaxation; we all seek the good lifestyle. In today’s society, we need to take time for relaxation. We know that being out in the fresh air, in a forest preserve or park, invigorates the body and the cells within that body – enhancing their activity. What we don’t know is that 74% of physician office visits are related to stress-induced symptoms, so if could eliminate some of those stressors, we might start to feel better. Forest bathing could, and should, be the first step.

A seasonal experience…

And, along comes forest bathing – the ideal walk in the woods – and it works any time of the year. But, now is a perfect time to get started. The days are longer and we are spending more time outside than ever before. For many of us, the economy has limited the kinds of activities that we can do solo or as a family or group. Think about it – n the spring and summer, during allergy season, spending more time in nature could have surprising health benefits. In the fall, we get a double bonus – not just a walk in the woods for fresh air and the peace that it brings to us, but the colorful array of leaves and nature. In the winter, the ground is covered with frost or snow, yet the air that we breathe is clean, cool, and invigorating. In a series of studies, scientists found that when people swap their concrete walls for some time with Mother Nature – forests, parks and other places with plenty of trees – they experience increased immune function.

A family experience…

The entire family can benefit from a walk in the woods. The kids will breathe good air, enjoy the benefits of nature, collect leaves, and scrapbook them when they get home. Parents will enjoy being outside with those nearest and dearest to them. They will enjoy nature through the eyes and ears of a child – as only children can see it.

The Russian forests…

I had the privilege of working in Russia for nearly ten years in the healthcare sector, and while I stayed in the city and used public transportation, I often thought about getting out of town for the weekend and enjoying the natural beauties of the country. My colleagues made it a point to visit their country homes on the weekends – yes, even in the winter – to sit by a fire while inside, but to experience nature in the forest outside. And, I had the joy of joining them on many occasions – walking through the forest – and revisiting nature. What a difference it made in my own life. I was working 100 hour weeks, often traveling between cities and between countries in a week’s time. I needed to relax, and I did not make the time to do so. My ‘forest bathing’ experience restored my own well-being and taught me an important lesson about self-care. You cannot care for others until you take care of yourself!

The studies…

One study published in January 2011 included data on 280 healthy people in Japan. On one day, some people were instructed to walk through a forest or wooded area for a few hours, while others walked through a city area. On the second day, they traded places. The scientists found that being among plants produced “lower concentrations of cortisol, lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure,” among other things. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17903349)

Although the University of Sussex claims a nature walk reduces stress only by 42% (as determined by pulse rate) while reading just six minutes brings your stress levels down by 68%, the side benefits of walking through the woods are very compelling. So, the next time that you are facing burnout and need to switch gears for awhile, walk away from your desk and/or your wired device, and head out for the nearest forest preserve to enjoy nature.

In addition to mental and emotional well-being, more than half of the most commonly prescribed drugs include compounds derived from nature – for example Taxol, used against ovarian and breast cancer, is derived from yew trees, while Xylitol, which can inhibit dental cavities, is produced from hardwood bark.

Your own experience…

Create your own experience with forest bathing! What can you do if you are not near a forest preserve? Simply remove your shoes and walk barefoot in your own backyard.

Experience the earth and the ground and take time to meditate on your blessings
Be mindful of your life, your health, your body and your being
Make forest bathing a ritual within your family and within your home
Get back to nature…it is easy…it is cost-effective…and the benefits are real

To start the process: