Does feedback in vernacular language help in retaining more patients?
Well, the straight answer to this question is YES! Vernacular language does help when it comes to patient feedback.
’Better than chanting a thousand words in a dead language is one soothing word spoken in the vernacular.’’
~ Buddha
Let us look into this subject with some more discussion and some examples to come to a conclusion.
Defining Patient Feedback as a starter!
Patient feedback is a weapon that helps a healthcare professional to become aware & tackle an unpleasant experience of a patient and turn it into a pleasant one. Above all, it gives an insight into patient satisfaction that empowers a healthcare professional to take measures accordingly.
For a moment, consider yourself talking to a person whom you are seeking help outside of your family but in your mother tongue. That’s a comfortable feeling, right? It will surely help make conversation clearer and quicker.
Imagine your patients getting this comfort feeling too when you ask for their feedback, in their vernacular language.
How we see to it is-
Considering vernacular language as the mode of communication brings comfort for patients. Comfort then fosters a positive experience. And what other than genuine feedback can come from such comfortable patients?
As a consequence, a chain is devised that carries a boon for both sides of healthcare - patients and their doctors.
How does it actually help?
- Brings in the comfort to patients of having a person who can speak your language
As explored above, comfort is a deciding factor that results in a number of positive outcomes, especially in today’s healthcare industry that is more or less patient-centric. Having said that, when it comes to feedback, patients are at times hesitant. But with a mere conversation in a vernacular language, the hesitance turns into the comfort that increases the chances of him giving honest and constructive feedback.
2. Strengthens trust among both sides
Language of comfort (vernacular) stimulates genuity. It breaks all the barriers between a doctor-patient relationship that might have been built due to miscommunication.
3. Increases relatability & adds to transparency in the communication
Take any language, for instance, Gujarati. A patient who is Gujrati will be happier if he/she gets an option to converse in his/her native language. It would surely make the asked questions easier to understand & relatable to answer. Ultimately this easy conversation enhances transparency in the communication.
4. Caters to the demand of today’s time i.e. personalization.
Nothing like personalized care for a patient. Today’s time demands a personalized experience. And without a doubt, vernacular language adds to this process. It makes a patient feel valued which adds to his openness to share his honest feedback.
When all of these factors are tapped upon timely, patient retention is sure to happen. After all, which patient would not want so much personalized and thoughtful care?
Nth Sense knows all of this and offers a unique feedback mechanism to solve the purpose.
Nth Sense, a compassionate patient engagement platform banks on patient feedback as a strong tool to help healthcare professionals analyze their care and eventually enhance the patient experience.
The executive at Nth Sense walks an extra mile making vernacular language as his companion and reaching the goal of happy healthcare for all.
In conclusion, feedback helps in retaining patients & taking them in vernacular language strengthens the Doctor-Patient bond!
Let us know if you found this discussion helpful and want to add anything to it.
