A recent Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) survey revealed that the number of hospitals and health systems leveraging automation increased by three times throughout 2020. Still, many experts think the healthcare industry adopts automation slower than other sectors, leaving much room for improvement. Automation has many rewards that make it worth considering for your healthcare practice. Here are some key reasons why you should automate as many tasks in your hospital as possible.

Reduce medical errors

Medical errors are surprisingly the third-leading cause of death in America, with a John Hopkins study estimating that over 250,000 people die yearly due to this. However, automation is famed for error reduction in a wide range of applications and industries, including healthcare. Consequently, consider embracing automation in your healthcare practice to lower the number of medical errors you make and improve your patients’ health outcomes. For instance, automation in medical diagnostics ensures that physicians don’t have to second-guess their recommendations.

Easy transfer and access to data

Automating patient data access and transfer can also help your healthcare practice significantly. Your hospital will be able to add patient data to databases after collecting it, allowing for easy information sharing between internal departments and other facilities. Data sharing is one of the healthcare sector’s biggest challenges, so automation’s facilitation of data sharing is particularly useful. Automation can also help your hospital access the information it needs to handle enrollments very quickly. It is a well-known fact that enrollment is a time-intensive process that can slow down internal processes and take attention from other vital work functions. Fortunately, you can rely on automation software such as healthcare credentialing software to simplify the enrollment process in a few easy steps to save money and time.

Higher patient satisfaction

Many factors affect patient satisfaction in the healthcare system, including the quality of care they receive at the hospital. Therefore, the simplicity of scheduling, check-ins, and finishing appointments are critical to keeping patients satisfied. You can rely on various advanced scheduling solutions that permit patients to schedule their appointments on a computer or smartphone at any time. This form of self-scheduling solution gives patients all the available appointment time slots, so they can select one that is convenient based on the kind of appointment and provider they need to see. Patients can also access their medical records, seek medical advice, and stay in touch with their doctors from the convenience of their homes, thanks to many telemedicine solutions.

Reduce cost

Cost reduction is one of the biggest benefits of adopting automation solutions in hospitals. According to a study by the nonprofit organization CAQH, the American healthcare industry could save as much as 33% of the current spending on healthcare administration annually by switching to fully electronic processes. This cost reduction happens in various ways, depending on the specific solutions you rely on. For instance, automation solutions that allow doctors, nurses, and other staff to focus on patient care instead of administrative tasks will help reduce payouts due to medical errors, improving your hospital’s bottom line.

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No matter how old you get, your parents will always be older. Bear in mind that this means that the tables will turn at some point in your life. As you grew up and even into your adult life, your mom and dad always worked hard to give you all of the support you need. Of course, though, age doesn’t come alone, bringing with it all sorts of maladies and ailments, especially once someone gets into their 80’s. To give you the opportunity to provide them with the life they deserve, this post outlines some of the best ways to care for them after you’ve retired.

Keeping Them Company

It’s easy to get lonely as someone gets older. Often, their partner and friends have passed away and what remains are challenges. In addition to loneliness, they often find is hard to move around on their own. This makes spending time with your elderly loved ones the most crucial part of their care. It doesn’t matter if they’re sick or injured, seeing you a few times a week will bring a smile to their face and give them the chance to be themselves. You can also use this opportunity to take them to places or people they don’t get to see very often, adding some variety to a life that may largely consist of sitting in a chair.

Giving Them Independence

While it will feel natural to smother your parents when they need help, being too hands-on can end up making their lives harder. People often find that they only lose the ability to do certain jobs when they don’t do them for a long time. If you don’t walk for weeks on end, for example, it will be hard for you to go out for a hike. It’s better to look for ways to help them to be independent, whether this is a car which they can drive or simply a grabber which can be used for their chair. A lot of companies are turning their focus to this sort of care, and this means that there are loads of products on the market to help.

Providing Personal Care

Most parents don’t like the idea of their children providing their personal care. This part of life should be something that is kept strictly professional. With this in mind, domiciliary care training is almost always required to handle it properly, making it worth leaving it to care experts. They will handle the personal aspects of your parent’s care. These types of professional services offer options to have someone move in on a temporary basis if more extreme measures have to be taken. Building a good relationship with a company like this really early on can be a great way to ensure an easier future.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to take on the challenge of caring for your parents after they retire. A lot of people struggle with work like this, finding it hard to know whether or not they should throw their lives into helping their loved ones. Of course, though, there are loads of places to look for help in this field.

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There could be a whole array of reasons why you’re interested in going into the dental field. Maybe you’re wanting to be a dentist? Orthodontist? There are more dental-related roles in the dental career than these two. Regardless of the job you’re wanting, it’s best to know that dentistry is definitely very fulfilling and it’s something that professionals love doing. However, it’s not all just sunshine, just like the general medical field, or any field from industry, there are some negatives and there are things that need to be considered first.

When it comes to looking into a career, it’s always best to see what the positives and what the negatives are.  You just want to keep a hold of reality and know what may be expected of you before you get into said career. So here are some things you should consider and that you need to know about the dental field.

Networking counts

You may have thought that it’s only the business world where networking matters, but you’d be wrong. Even for most dentistry roles, you’re going to have to network. This includes networking with professionals, students, and even companies that sell dental supplies. Sure, it’s a lot of work to stay connected and find dental professionals but they can really give you the jump start that you need. This can include helping you land a job, get your foot in the door, and even get your name out there.

You have to be a people person

If you plan on interacting with patients (like many need to do in the medical field), you’re going to have to be a people person. You’re going to have to enjoy chatting with people, be able to take feedback, and handle general customer service. Most jobs in the dental field are going to require good communication skills with patients.

There are options

Whether you’re wanting to be a dentist or dental assistant, you should know that there are options for you. Dental School is a major investment, both in time and money. It takes an average of 6 years to complete school just to be a dentist alone, and you can expect more years to be topped on that if you’re interested in being a dental surgeon. Just know that you don’t have to be tied down to one option. There are programs out there for people who want to be in the dental field but don’t have the time or more to go into dental school.

You can be a business owner

It’s true, one of the beauties of being in the dental field is the fact that you don’t have to be tied down to working for a hospital or a company like many other professionals in the medical field. Sure, you’ll need to figure out what to do to become a dentist or anything else you’re wanting to be in the dental industry but the fear of being tied to an employer doesn’t need to exist. You can open up your own private practice or even work with a professional who has their own private practice. 

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Stay on Top of Your Health

Just because there is a pandemic, that is no reason to ignore your health. Prevention is still important and you have to make it a priority. In my case, I went to my annual physical in June with my Primary Care Doctor. She recommended that I get an MRI on my foot for the cyst she found. She also advised me to go to my Ob-Gyn for my annual women’s health exam and to get a mammogram order just as I had before the pandemic. And she also reminded me to see my dentist because it has been a year. Although there are some delays with getting appointments, and you often have to get a temperature check and answer some Covid-related questions, these are no reason to delay care.

What to Do If You Need Care

If you need routine care such as a yearly exam or a mammogram, visit your primary care doctor first. She can point you in the right direction for best next steps. Be prepared to wait for an appointment. This is why it is so important to stay ahead of your health. The wait times are long now because of the staffing shortages and resources are tied up with pandemic care. Once you secure an appointment, write down the details in a calendar or planner. There will likely be things that you need to bring to the appointment such as your driver’s license and insurance card. Most offices require a verbal COVID screening with questions and a temperature check. Masks are often required for all medical visits whether in office or hospital. If you need imaging or surgery, be sure to get an order from your doctor and make the appointment as soon as you can because again, there are longer than normal wait times.

How to Prepare for Surgery

For surgery, you will likely need a pre-surgical negative COVID Test within 48 hours of your visit. In my case, my hospital called me and scheduled it at one of their facilities. I checked several pharmacies and urgent care centers near my house for the 48 hour window before my surgery and there were no appointments available. Having this sorted for me was a real relief. The nurse at the hospital gave me a nasal swab test at 7 am and the results were ready the next morning by 8 am. The results were ready for me in my electronic patient chart also known as My Chart. I also had a pre-surgical office visit to my foot and ankle doctor. She prescribed some medications for after surgery. I had to take those to my pharmacy and drop them off. Those took overnight to fill so I went back to pick them up the next day. Again, it is important to understand and plan ahead for all of these steps.

Taking Care of Yourself After Surgery

Because my kids are away at school and no one else was available to come take care of me after surgery, I did some preparation. Having been through five surgeries, I know what is needed to get through the first few days. I ordered a walker with a seat online and had it delivered to my house. My husband assembled it for me after work so I had it on the second evening after my surgery. I also ordered some healthy, ready to eat food through Shipt. Prepared salads, fruit cups, yogurt and sandwiches are best as you will not able to cook or clean up. You will have a lot of down time and probably not have too much energy after surgery. Also, your attention span may not be what it was before surgery for a few days. I like to listen to audio books on Audible.

Once again, do not delay preventive care during the pandemic. Dental visits, well child check ups, physicals and chronic disease follow-ups are still needed at this time. Keep a close watch on your health and stay in touch with your primary care doctor. Schedule appointments as soon as you know you need them.

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It Relieves Employee Stress 

There are enough financial burdens already, and the last thing your employees want are significant medical bills that could ruin all of their hard work saving. By offering healthcare coverage, you remove this element of employer stress, which will make them less concerned about possible expenses should they need to visit the hospital. With this, they will show improved performance, as they won’t be stuck awake at night worrying about financial troubles. This makes them more productive, which will vastly benefit your company and its growth.

It Keeps Them Engaged and Motivated 

Similarly, you want a team of employees that are motivated and engaged so they can reach targets and boost your company’s fortunes. By offering healthcare and working with establishments like Hamilton Riverside Dentistry, it shows that you care about their wellbeing and understand they are human. This will make them happy to go above and beyond for you, and the better you treat them, the better they will treat you. This is a mutually beneficial scenario that can help them improve their skills while also putting their all into their role. 

It Gives Your Employees a Choice 

Aside from the common cold or muscle sprains, everyone has different medical needs. If you go through with a solid health care plan for your employees, you can cover as many unique conditions as possible. By doing so, you give your team a choice when getting treatment to get better. Younger employees won‘t have the same issues as older employees, but if you provide versatile coverage, everyone can feel confident in their overall health while at your company.  

It Makes Your Company More Appealing 

As much as branding and exceptional customer service are essential for marketing your business, you should also demonstrate how you treat your employees. If you offer healthcare benefits, you make your company stand out as a great place to work. This will attract more customers and clients and increase your reputation. Besides this, it will also attract the best talent in the industry. They want to work somewhere that will appreciate them and treat them properly. By delivering everything they need in a contract, you can be the company to work for. 

Taking Care

Employees want to feel like you care about them. They want to feel they are more than just cogs in the machine who are easily replaceable. By offering healthcare coverage, including dental, you can dramatically increase their job satisfaction and make your entire business more appealing for future employees and customers. 

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Extra things on your to do list leaving you feeling stressed

There is no hiding from the fact that having extra things on your to do list can have you feeling stressed and anxious. Life can already feel pretty hectic. You have your work to do, a family perhaps to look after, and then to add into the mix taking care of an older relative that might require financial help as well as time. This can cause you to meltdown if you don’t plan things carefully. Try and ensure that you manage your time carefully to avoid feeling stressed and overwhelmed. 

Not taking care of yourself

One of the biggest factors that can affect you personally is the lack of self care that you reward yourself. The problem you have is that you can’t help others without taking care of yourself, otherwise you are just asking for problems. A big tip would be to ensure that you what you can take better care of yourself. It might be simply eating properly and having a balanced diet, scheduling in time to be active and get some exercise or just ensuring you have a few moments a day to gather your thoughts and look after your mental health. 

Having to make big decisions on somebody else’s behalf 

Making big decisions for yourself personally is no easy thing to do, as you weigh up the pros and cons on how it will affect you, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that you will feel the same level of fear and angst when trying to do it for someone else. If you do need to make big decisions, make sure you take the time to look at all the facts. Whether you are considering adapting a home, hospice care at home or in a facility or looking to obtain a bit of respite they can all take their toll on you as well as the family member it involves. Big decisions for others still require you to weigh up the pros and cons. 

Not sure how to communicate or care for that person

It can be hard to know how to communicate or care for that person, with the role reversal in mind, so take some time to ensure that you think about their feelings as well as your own. It won’t be easy for them to go through this situation either, and the emotional impact can be hitting them hard as well. Invest time to just talk to them, it will do wonders with how you are feeling about it. 

Let’s hope this has you more aware of the impact it will have on you as well as others around you. 

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If you are starting a new job, you probably feel overwhelmed with all the information coming at you. But you need to be smart about your paycheck and benefits. Make it a priority to learn your benefits and spend your money wisely. Use this guide to get started.

Your Paycheck

Your employer may have direct deposit. Be sure and sign up for this service because it will save you time in the long run. Having your paycheck deposited for you allows you to have access to your money quicker than paper checks and saves you time and hassle of going to the bank and standing in lines on pay day. Once your pay is deposited, use these checks from Checks Unlimited to pay your bills. Since it often takes a few payroll periods to start, you should complete this paperwork right away.

Your Healthcare Benefits

Benefits do not have to be complicated. Spend some time reviewing your employer’s communications.

Think about you and your family’s healthcare needs and your budget. If there are options, be sure to read up on how to pick the best benefits. Many employers have a payroll contribution amount so be sure and choose wisely because these choices are locked for a year unless you have a life changing event. If your employer offers a healthcare savings account or a flexible spending account, you will want to contribute to it. These accounts offer a tax advantage in that the contributions are made prior to taxes being taken out of your pay check. You can use these funds to pay for certain healthcare items such as eyeglasses and dental appliances.

Wellness Program

Many employers offer a wellness program. It may require that you complete a health risk assessment within a certain time frame in order to receive an incentive. Or perhaps your company offers discounted gym memberships. Be sure and ask about any deadlines and incentives so that you are getting the full benefit of these programs.

Even though it is a lot of information to digest, if you focus on these three, you will be off to a great start. Be sure and check your company’s Human Resources intranet portal and ask questions. Congratulations on the new job!

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