Dr. Raoof visiting patients during MAD Rounds with administrator James Villavicencio.
Dr. Sabiha Raoof; Chairwoman of Radiology for Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center was featured in last month’s edition of the American College of Radiation’s publication, the ACR Bulletin.
Dr. Raoof was interviewed for an extended article titled “A Combined Approach”, which highlighted radiologists who are ‘working with their colleagues to improve the patient experience through initiatives big and small.’
The article delved into the importance of optimizing the patient experience, by simply finding out what patients want. Methods used to obtain this type of information typically include extracting opinions and data from electronic surveys.
Dr. Raoof was recognized for her unique approach to finding out what patients want by meeting with them directly. She initiated the MAD (Making a Difference) Rounds project at Jamaica Hospital, which was created along with the help of hospital leaders to ensure that patients receive the best quality care during their stay. The project, later adopted at Flushing Hospital, involves the participation of nearly 100 clinicians and administrators who make rounds each day, asking patients how they are feeling and if they need anything. “The MAD team’s goal is to solve any issues a patient has immediately,”Dr. Raoof explained. She went on to say “We want patients to feel empowered to ask questions and tell us how we can make their health care experience better.”
Jamaica and Flushing Hospital Medical Center are taking steps to becoming “High-Reliability Hospitals.” The MAD program is one of several initiatives that have been created to increase patient satisfaction. Hospital leaders and staff are continuously exploring ways to make time spent at both campuses a positive experience for all.