Opinion
Video
Fostering a Patient-Centric Environment During OAB Procedures
In this episode, Dr. Kennelly, Dr. Kevin Benson, and Dr. Karyn Eilber discuss their strategies for ensuring patient comfort during overactive bladder (OAB) treatment procedures. They delve into the roles of clinical staff, the setup of the procedure room, and how they address patient needs and concerns to create a reassuring environment. The experts also share their experiences in handling challenges during procedures, illustrating how they've adapted their practices based on patient feedback to maintain a patient-centric focus throughout the treatment process.
Transcript:
Dr. Kennelly: Dr Eilber, we both mentioned about the procedure, you know, and let's say we're talking about botulinum toxin injections, how do you actually make patients feel comfortable? I mean, what do you have certain things that you're doing in your practice and that allow people to kind of feel at ease?
Dr. Karyn Eilber: I think one of the things that really makes people feel at ease is trying to have your same staff with them all the time. You know, this is a very obviously private area that we're working in. And so, So if you're rotating your staff just so they're getting experience in your office at different places I'm not sure that's the best idea when it comes to procedures like this because seeing familiar faces I think is really critical because when they check in they're not seeing you until it's right at the injection so they're seeing lots of other people beforehand.
Based on what we all met over the summer you know to discuss all these things I actually got a little aromatherapy and lights kind of device and it just has some background noise for people listen to it just sounds like sounds of nature. And it has lights so that they're not laying on their back waiting to get numb looking at these, you know, sterile fluorescent lights and my patients have been coming for a long time all comment that they really appreciate that. So I think the little things like that, and because a lot of people are kind of return customers if you will. they're just kind of used to it after a while and just having easy conversation with, you know, the staff really helps.
Dr. Kennelly: Yeah, so I think when you, it's probably the hardest treatment, if something's repetitive, is that very first one. So it seems like you want to get it right the first time. And it seems like with your experience, you've evolved. So obviously, making lighting in the room, looking at what people are looking at, you're kind of putting yourself in the patient's shoes or what are they walking through and seeing what's going on.and visualizing, having music around that area. You both mentioned sort of verbal anesthesia during throughout that, friendly faces, the same people. I utilize a lot of those things in my practice also because I think that's kind of key. Dr. Benson, is there any other thing that during the procedure that you can kind of make patients feel comfortable or? -
Dr Benson: Well, I think some of it, you know, has to do with you pre -medicate, you know, anxious patients. Do you get patients with chronic pain, other options? Do you, how do you utilize the lidocaine in the bladder, right? So just that alone, you got to give it some time to set up so you can't go in there one minute after you've done the installation and then do the procedure. Sometimes we, we instill lidocaine after the procedure additionally, but it's really finding out what, what are the patients concerned? concerns, because if you can just ask them what is there anything concerning you today, they'll very quickly tell you, well, it's my back, you know, or I have a bad hip and I need to be on my side, or, you know, those little things that just really do make a lot of difference for patients. And so it's just listening to them taking inventory.
And in fact, you know, again, we've had some discussion about this before, but it's even having the patient even having a checklist available to the patient beforehand of any special considerations that they would like. And that alone helps. There's some that like the lights turned down if you can. There's some that do you want a certain song to play or they want to wear their earbuds. We have many patients who do that. So those are little things that are also helpful during the procedure, that and just being expeditious. So when you go to do it being proficient, getting at the right point in the bladder to do your injections and doing as best you can.
Dr. Kennelly: I think that's those are great points that you've mentioned.
*Video transcript is AI-generated and reviewed by Urology Times® editorial staff.
