How to Increase Anesthesia Patient Satisfaction Rates Through Your Hiring Decisions

The goal of any anesthesia practice is to provide quality care to its patients. Many practices track patient satisfaction with surveys and other tools. But what many practice managers don’t realize is that hiring the right staff can have a direct and measurable impact on your patient satisfaction scores.

How? An anesthesia team that works together well can offer smoother, more organized care, improving the patient experience. Staff who focus on meeting the patient’s needs with an attention to detail and a caring “bedside manner” help patients feel more comfortable – which studies indicate may not only boost satisfaction scores, but also help promote faster healing.

Here’s how to build a team that produces more satisfied patients:

1. Look for “soft skills” that promote better patient care. Excellent technical and medical skills are a must in anesthesiology. To give patients a more positive experience, however, include interview questions that look for essential “soft” or transferable skills for good patient care. These include attention to detail and the ability to communicate complex information about the process in a simple, straightforward way for each patient.
2. Implement ways to assess for cultural “fit” with the rest of the team. Even the best anesthesiologist or CRNA will struggle on the job if she doesn’t mesh well with the rest of the team – and patient care may suffer as a result. Look for candidates whose personalities and approach to work complement the team they’ll be joining. Questions like “If you could change one thing about your last job, what would it be?” or “How do you learn best?” can help you find candidates who work the way your team works best.
3. Work with your recruiter. Staffing firms specialize in matching the right candidate to the job for each medical practice they serve. They understand that internal cultures and approaches to patient satisfaction differ, and they recommend candidates with these factors in mind.

At KTE Services, we specialize in placing qualified anesthesiologists, CRNAs, nurse practitioners, and other medical professionals with anesthesiology and pain management practices. Contact us today to learn how we can help you find the right staff for your practice.