In the contemporary world, health services refer to all the public services with the responsibility for providing medical attention. These health services include but are not limited to diagnosing and treatment of diseases, maintaining and restoring health among individuals among others. On the other hand, social care services refer to the services aiming at providing personal care and social uplifting of the less privileged individuals. These groups that qualify for the social care services include children, people with disabilities, old age, and those suffering from illness and poverty. Health and social care services are fundamental for the development and elevation of social standards within society. The services focus on protecting and safeguarding the users from social neglect and abuse, restoring health within the community, improving life expectancy, and guaranteeing human rights based on social needs thereby strengthening families (Connolly and Ward, 2008). Quality services are fundamentally critical to the protection and restoration of health. In improving health and social care services, the following suggestions are paramount.
Improving customer care services in health and social care are necessary. Service providers must possess appropriate skills to provide clients with relevant and accurate information. The professionals need to be able to identify and meet the patient’s expectations. The customer services need to be efficient and consistent to build the client’s trust and belief in the care. For instance, a case study in Scotland reveals the disparities in customer care standards where patients do not receive the appropriate information and advice that they are seeking (Davis, 2004). Improving the efficient communication strategies between service providers and patients can elevate the standards of health and social care services.
Empowering users and putting people’s interests at the forefront are central to the development of effective health and social care services. The service providers can adhere to the patients’ preferences, respect their responses and consider the clients’ suggestions. Through customer empowerment, the patients can develop self-esteem and the subsequent renewal of survival for terminally ill individuals. The users’ feedback and interests play a fundamental role in the decision-making regarding health service provision and facilitation (Keefe and Jurkowski, 2013). There must be an equitable provision of services regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Timely service provision is necessary to avoid deleterious effects as a result of delays.
Valuing the front-line staff personnel plays a fundamental role in the improvement of healthcare services. Engaging the front-line members in an efficient and effective system can positively manipulate the current social care services. Active involvement of the front-line staff in decision-making and valuing their contribution to health and social care services is paramount. Motivational activities such as better paybacks and excellent working conditions for the front-line personnel can serve as a tool to facilitate better services (Medscape.org, 2015).
Health and social care institutions must develop an efficient administrative structure consisting of qualified professionals. The management can set quality standards within the systems that are higher than normal and device an appropriate quality function (Connolly and Ward, 2008). Health and social care institutions must embrace the new technology and improve the available facilities to enhance service delivery. The availability of modern diagnostic techniques and approaches can boost service delivery and reduce risks as a result of delays
In conclusion, improving health and social care services is necessary. Quality services, especially in the health sector to the underprivileged groups are critical. Improving customer services, communication strategies, front-line staff services, and institutional administration can play a central role towards the realization of quality.
References
Connolly, M. and Ward, T. (2008). Morals, rights and practice in the human services. London: Jessica Kingsley.
Davis, K. (2004). Consumer-Directed Health Care: Will It Improve Health System Performance?. Health Services Research, 39(4p2), pp.1219-1234.
Keefe, R. and Jurkowski, E. (2013). Handbook for public health social work. New York: Springer Pub.
Medscape.org, (2015). Quality Improvement in Healthcare. Web.