One doctor for 11,082 people. That is the story of healthcare in India.
The healthcare segment is dominated by the private sector in India, with 70% of the total market taken care of by the private sector. But the problem is that most of the organised private infrastructure remains confined to the capitals or Tier I cities, with the facilities, not the same in Tier II and Tier III cities.
But things are changing with hospital chains making inroads into smaller towns, leading doctors and clinics here to embrace technology and upgrade their services. Slowly, but steadily, quality healthcare is coming to towns such as Hubli, Guwahati, Cuttack, and Jamnagar.
Adopting technology and modern infrastructure
The future of healthcare lies in working hand-in-hand with technology, and it is more important than ever for doctors, nurses, and other medical experts to embrace emerging healthcare technologies to stay relevant in the coming years. Experts agree that technology can help transform unsustainable healthcare systems into sustainable ones, leading to cheaper, faster, and more effective diagnoses.
With the NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare allowing a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) to provide telemedicine consultation to patients from across the country, there is no reason for doctors and clinics not to be online.
How can technology help clinics and hospitals in Tier II and III towns, which are not on top of recent trends?
- Digitalisation of health records
- Online consultations
- Greater and better patient care
- Improved time management
- Ease of workflow
- Lower healthcare costs
- Increased communication
- Tie-ups with bigger hospitals and doctors
Over time, technology can help improve efficiency and quality of care, cut healthcare costs further, avoid preventable deaths, enhance the quality of life, reduce healthcare waste, and predict epidemics.
Reason enough for every small clinic in every small town to have an online presence, isn’t it?
Hiring the best quality medical staff
Having talented staff on the rolls is important when it comes to operating an effective clinic that offers exceptional patient care. All employees, be they doctors, nursing staff, caretakers, or lab staff, must be trained and knowledgeable so that the facility runs smoothly and safely. Clinics must remember that the cost of hiring poor quality employees can be extremely high and badly affect patient care and satisfaction. The need for talented healthcare staff members has always been on top of every medical organisation’s list, but it is even more so in today’s time.
Good staff:
- Make fewer mistakes with patients
- Provide better quality service
- Increase patient satisfaction
- Enhance the clinic’s reputation
- Work towards the clinic’s goals and objectives
What should clinics look for when hiring? Wisdom and expertise, knowledge of technology, flexibility, personality and customer focus, patience and time management skills, and commitment to patient privacy.
Focusing on preventive healthcare
Prevention is always better than cure. Preventive healthcare is defined as “medical care that seeks to prevent illnesses” and includes vaccinations, routine checks, screenings, and counselling that will ensure you are healthy and stay that way.
Preventive care can include:
- Doctor visits, such as annual checkups and dental cleanings
- Vaccinations
- Contraception
- Colonoscopies and mammograms
- Allergy medications
- Screenings for cancer, blood pressure, and cholesterol
Why is it so important, especially in smaller towns? Preventive care is the most important step people can take to manage their health. For many of the top risk factors that lead to illness and premature death are preventable. This line of treatment focuses on helping people stay healthy and providing them access to prompt treatment when necessary so that overall medical expenses are brought down.
People with regular access to affordable preventative care are more likely to discover and manage chronic conditions, reducing emergency hospitalisations and more expensive treatments for diseases that have progressed to later stages.
Preventive care also keeps people productive and active for longer, improving their quality of life. Since people in small towns tend to be more hesitant in seeking medical care and also often don’t have medical insurance, clinics can focus on preventive healthcare so that both sides benefit.
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