By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    photo of hands with blue veins
    8 Proven Tips on Finding Difficult Veins
    November 12, 2021
    tips for getting over the pandemic blues
    4 Proven Ways to Get Over the Pandemic Blues
    February 22, 2022
    medical industry innovations
    How is CNC Machining Transforming the Medical Industry?
    June 2, 2022
    Latest News
    Getting Back in the Game: Sports Injuries Rehabilitation Tips
    May 31, 2023
    4 Signs It’s Time to See a Therapist
    May 24, 2023
    11 Ways To Modernize Your Private Practice
    May 17, 2023
    How to Recognize the Signs of Hormonal Imbalance in Men
    May 29, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Global Handwashing Day: Support Global Handwashing
    October 13, 2011
    Angelina Jolie breast cancer
    Angelina Jolie, BRCA1, Public Health and Patent Law
    May 18, 2013
    Aid Cuts to Middle-Income Countries Worsen Global Poverty and Ill-Health
    January 10, 2012
    Latest News
    MRI Sedation Options: What You Should Know Before Screening
    May 17, 2023
    What is the Process of Creating Medicine from Nature?
    May 2, 2023
    Choosing the Right Treatment Option for Varicose Veins
    May 2, 2023
    What Are Wrong-Site Surgeries and How Do They Occur?
    April 27, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 5 Ways Health Providers Can Help Reduce Patient Stress Without Drugs
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Global Healthcare > 5 Ways Health Providers Can Help Reduce Patient Stress Without Drugs
BusinessGlobal HealthcareMedical EducationTechnology

5 Ways Health Providers Can Help Reduce Patient Stress Without Drugs

Ryan Kh
Last updated: 2017/12/27 at 2:16 PM
Ryan Kh
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Whether you’re treating a high-powered executive or a trembling tot, always keep in mind that your patient’s visit can be a daunting experience for them. Approximately 20 percent of Americans experience white coat syndrome (a phenomenon in which blood pressure surges during a consultation), while many more let their fear of doctors and hospitals keep them from seeking vital treatment. Although a fear response is perfectly normal in a stressful situation, a patient’s fear can also hinder our ability to diagnose and treat them effectively. Thus, it’s hugely important to be aware of patient anxiety and how to effectively treat it. What are the best ways to reduce patient stress without drugs? 1. Make Your Patient Feel Valued and Understood As most doctor visits total around 15 minutes, patients can often feel like cattle. If your patient feels that you are simply trying to get them in and out as quickly as possible, they may become anxious and less able to recall important signs and symptoms. To avoid this, adopt an open posture, angling your body toward the other person as they speak. Make eye contact, nod and ask questions where appropriate. This will reassure your patient that they are not just a number and that you can be trusted to look after their best interests. 2. Embrace Technology to Keep Patients in the Loop In recent times, technology usage has soared. In order to keep up with patients (particularly millennials), it’s important to maintain an online presence for your clinic. Begin by utilizing tech that reduces stress. For example, consider uploading videos that showcase your facilities. Clean, bright operating rooms and doctors’ offices will give your practice a sense of professionalism that will lower patient anxiety levels. Another way to put patients at ease is to create video introductions for all practicing doctors. These brief introductions will give doctors a chance to display their personalities and show a less clinical, more human side that patients can relate to. Studies have shown that patients who dislike or distrust their doctors are less likely to accurately disclose their symptoms. 3. Improve their Sex Lives Patients can manage their stress much more easily if they have a healthy outlet for their sexual energy. Researchers at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania found that subjects that have sex at least once a week have stronger immune systems and lower stress levels than those that did not. If patients lack an adequate means of sexual expression, their doctors can recommend a good online sex therapist. 4. Create a Pleasant Environment While maintaining a clean, sterile environmental is important for both professionalism and health reasons, a sparse white office can set off anxiety in patients. In order to combat this anxiety, add a little color to the room in the form of bright paintings or plastic indoor plants. If you have a sense of humor, a cartoon or silly poster poking fun at illness or doctors is a great choice, as laughter is strongly linked to anxiety management. 5. Offer Home Visits It’s not always practical for us to offer home visits. However, for elderly patients or patients with extreme GAD, a video-based consultation or an occasional house call may be invaluable. Examining patients with anxiety in the safety of their own home is an effective way of combating white coat syndrome and encouraging patients who are genuinely terrified of doctors’ offices to seek treatment. 6. Encourage Deep Breathing Breathing techniques have long been known to help with stress and anxiety. Although you have limited consultation time, devoting the first two minutes to breathing exercises may help your patient provide better information (and more accurate test readings) that can streamline the rest of the appointment. Research the relaxing breath exercise, which involves having patients inhale through the nose for a count of four, hold it for a count of seven and then exhale through the mouth for a count of eight. After a few cycles, the patient’s anxiety should diminish. It may be tempting to treat anxious individuals with drugs, but we owe it to our patients to try less invasive stress-reducing procedures first. Next time you have a tricky client on file, remember that your demeanor, office and online presence can have a dramatic impact on how comfortable your patient feels in your care.

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Ryan Kh July 27, 2016
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
By Ryan Kh
Follow:
Ryan Kh is an experienced blogger, digital content & social marketer. Founder of Catalyst For Business and contributor to search giants like Yahoo Finance, MSN. He is passionate about covering topics like big data, business intelligence, startups & entrepreneurship. Email: ryankh14@icloud.com
Previous Article The Best Way to Prepare to Text Physician Orders
Next Article privacy-policy-510731_1920 “What we need is more regulation . . . .”

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

medical bills
Who is Responsible for Paying the Medical Bills After an Injury?
News June 1, 2023
sports injury rehabilitation
Getting Back in the Game: Sports Injuries Rehabilitation Tips
Health May 31, 2023
brush your day
How Many Times A Day Should You Brush Your Teeth?
Dental health May 29, 2023
Chiropractic Laser Therapy: A Beacon of Hope for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Chiropractic Laser Therapy: A Beacon of Hope for Chronic Pain Sufferers
Therapies May 29, 2023

You Might also Like

medical answering service
Technology

How Medical Answering Services Can Improve Patient Care

May 25, 2023
pet health apps
News

9 Best Apps for Pet Owners Trying to Keep their Animals Healthy

May 22, 2023
Biotechnology
Technology

What Are The Benefits of Biotechnology?

May 17, 2023
MRI sedation options
Global Healthcare

MRI Sedation Options: What You Should Know Before Screening

May 17, 2023
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?