"Better Patient Outcomes" As A Marketing Tool

[DoGoodThenGo]

Don't know about anywhere else, but it seems around NYC, the new buzz is about "better patient outcomes", and is being used by hospitals as part of their advertising/marketing.

One cannot get away from it; radio adverts touting "patients treated at **** hospital for cancer have better patient outcomes than other NYC hospitals". Other advertising claims that a hospital's "magnet status" means "patients have better outcomes due to the high quality of our nursing staff". And so on and so forth.

While I do understand the cut throat nature of healthcare these days, and hospitals no longer can rely on affliated physicans alone to fill beds, it just strikes me as a bit unsavory to play into a person's fears about their health in an effort to influence their choices.

[JenniferSews]

Nothing new here. Within a half a mile from one hospital I pass an advertisement that they have better patient satisfaction in their ER. Literally a few blocks later another says "accidents happen. Diall 911 and say "take me to X hospital ER!" The economy here is desperate! I have friends who work in both ERs and I always wonder that they think of those ads.

[Orange Tree]

I saw an ER billboard on the way home that screamed, "SHORTER WAIT TIME!"

There has got to be some fine print on that sign somewhere!

[ebear, BSN, RN]

IMO, billboards advertising hospitals is so tacky! If a hospital is known for excellent care, word gets around. It also gets around if the care is crappy! Hospitals are desparate and it shows loud and clear. This started when hospitals became corporate entities and patients became "clients." Really chaps my behind! As long as lawyers and accountants run the hospitals that's what happens. They have their place, of course, but advertising nursing care is NOT it!

[PeachPie]

I know for a fact that a certain local famed oncology hospital refuses to treat certain cancer patients because it'll mess up their success rates too much. A family friend was given too low a chance by them, and went on to be successfully treated at a competing hospital not as renowned for oncology.

[JacknSweetpea]

I'll give 'em better patient outcomes!!!*wine

[grannyrn65]

While the ad people and administration may think that ads influence choice, they don't for me. I have to take th following into consideration:

What hospital is on my PPO list?

What hospital does my physician have admitting priviliges to?

In an emergency, which one can I drive safely to and which meets the first two?

If I am in NYC and need medical assistance, which is closest to my hotel and is it a teaching hospital-since I am acquainted with most of the ones in Manhatten. And if I'm in a car accident there, take me to Bellvue or Kings County!!!

The community hospitals, in my area, also use the 'shorest wait time' ads, on TV, newspaper, radio. I'm waiting for net next. Since I only go to the hospital when I'm SOB, I generally have no wait time:).

And when I take my grandson,to NYC, in two years (senior graduation gift), he'll be told to ave me taken to Roosevelt.

GrannyRN65

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Better patient outcomes is a better promotion than having cookies baked nightly. (shrug)

[grannyrn65]

Better patient outcomes is a better promotion than having cookies baked nightly. (shrug)

Do you want to know what I and my peers, at the CulturalCenter,look to?

When I press my call light, besides getting a voice coming out of the wall, does it take to get someone to my bedside?

When I am on bedrest, how long do I have to wait,after pressing the light, for someone to come and put me on a bedpan? And how long do I have to wait to get taken off it?

How long do I have to wait for PRN medication? And if it is too soon, do you come and tell me?

Do you introduce yourself to me and give me your title(seems like everyone is a nurse)?

Do you answer questions from my family, really answer them? Or do you give them a breezy answer?

After spending hours in the ER, do you ask me if I would like something to eat, especially if I am a Type 2?

Do you tell me, after getting settled in my bed, I am on bedrest?

Do you put the call light within reach?

Do you go over the different systems operating the bed, the TV , how to make an outside call?

And to heck with the nightly baked cookies. Most of us can't or should not eat them.

Just meeting these needs will go along way to improving our satisfaction and outcome.

GrannyRN65

[linearthinker, DNP, RN]

Granny, I have to tell you I haven't a fracking clue how to operate the TV, other than push "power," and we don't have phones for the patients. The bed works just like the arrows say, up- down. Thats it. Do people really need that explained, lol? Cookies are dumb, since just about no one ought to be eating them anyway. I'd suggest they hand out fresh fruit, but our meals are frozen swanson dinners, so I have to LMAO at the thought of my place giving out apples.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Granny-

All the things you mention could be done by a ward aid, you don't need a RN. I'd rather be judged by the results of my duties as a registered nurse. You don't judge a dentist by the way his waiting room is decorated- you just think "darn, he needs to hire someone." But nurses are different I guess.

[grannyrn65]

Granny-

All the things you mention could be done by a ward aid, you don't need a RN. I'd rather be judged by the results of my duties as a registered nurse. You don't judge a dentist by the way his waiting room is decorated- you just think "darn, he needs to hire someone." But nurses are different I guess.

I guess that doing a patient assessment and ensuring that the ward aid did what was important, isn't important to you or your facility. It was this type of attitude that drove me out of bedside nursing in the 80's.

GrannyRN65