Have you ever come home from a trip to the grocery store only to discover you purchased the wrong item? Adding insult to injury, it’s one of those staples that you rarely run out of and you purchased dozens of times before - from the same store. But, as you pull it out of your shopping bag you realize it’s not the product you wanted. Maybe the packaging or the name was similar to the item you normally buy and, after a quick glance, you grabbed it and threw it in the cart.

What impact do healthgrades have on hospitals and their efforts to improve patient safety? Although some in healthcare circles question the scientific methodology of these studies, Healthcare Finance reports that healthcare ratings can impact a hospital’s bottom line. But, regardless of your belief in the data collection and interpretation, or the impact on revenue, one thing is certain. Infection prevention issues remain challenging for hospitals irrespective of their ranking.

Patient experience and satisfaction have become integral measures for value-based care. Not surprisingly, patient communication is one of the key drivers to improving the patient experience. What’s more, effective patient communication comes in many different forms. One-to-one conversations with patients and interactions with the clinical staff are crucial. But, so are the written and visual communications that occur on the go. In fact, when used strategically, labels can elevate communication among caregivers and improve patient satisfaction and care.