Patient Friendly Hospitals

Contents: Preface. 1. Patient friendly hospitals: concept, nature and scope. 2. Patient satisfaction in hospitals: mutual benefit for the community and the institution. 3. Patient privacy practices: essentials in hospitals. 4. Effective communication: a bond of friendly approach between hospitals and patients. 5. Patient safety indicators: a measure of patient friendliness. 6. Value for time: punctuality and time management. 7. Selfless service. Appendices. Index.

"Hospital administration and patients are intimately related to each other as the existence of one without the other is not possible in a civilized society. The harmonious relationship depends upon the sincerity, earnestness and cooperation between the two.

The authors in the study of hospital administration observed that the faith of the people in the efficiency of hospital system is decreasing because of the negligence and indifference on the part of hospital authorities. The patients also complain of the preferential treatment being given to VIPs and influential people. Some of the patients were of the view that these big hospitals are meant only to serve the VIPs.

The patients also complained of the lack of coordination between supportive services and the medical services. Most of the patients complained of the non-availability either of their X-ray reports or other laboratory reports.

It is, therefore, necessary that the citizen\'s faith in the hospital of which the administration is the chief executive agency should not be allowed to deteriorate, but should be reinforced adequately. This is important both for political stability and preservation of the social fabric.

This on on Patient Friendly Hospitals makes an important contribution to the knowledge and existing literature on this expanding field. Besides, this would help the academicians, national health officials, public health administrations, medical research workers and the policy-makers and planners in the proper understanding of health and hospital care delivery system in the context of responsiveness to citizens to ensure citizen friendly hospitals." (jacket)