EXPERTS CALL FOR PATIENT-CENTRED DESIGN IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

Healthcare experts have called on institutions to design and operate medical facilities around the needs and experiences of patients rather than focusing solely on infrastructure and equipment.

They made the call at the inaugural Foliage Healthcare Summit, organised by Foliage Health Technologies in Lagos, where stakeholders discussed ways to improve patient experience and healthcare delivery in Nigeria. (punchng.com)

The experts said healthcare providers needed to understand the realities of patients, including their emotional, financial and physical challenges, when designing services and facilities.

The Chief Executive Officer of Foliage Health Technologies, Dr. Folarin Oyekan, said patient experience should be treated as an important part of healthcare quality.

Oyekan said hospitals should consider factors such as accessibility, communication, waiting times, comfort and continuity of care when developing services.

He added that healthcare facilities should use technology to improve communication, appointment management, access to medical information and follow-up care.

Other speakers at the summit stressed the need for healthcare organisations to gather feedback from patients and use it to improve service delivery.

The stakeholders also called for stronger collaboration among healthcare providers, technology companies, policymakers and patients to address gaps in the health system.

They said patient-centred care could help improve trust between healthcare workers and patients while making medical services more responsive to the needs of the people they serve.

The summit brought together healthcare professionals, technology experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss practical approaches to improving healthcare delivery and patient experience in Nigeria. (punchng.com)