iCrowdNewswire Feb 2, 2021 1:53 PM ET
People are taking more of an interest in their health and want to be engaged in the healthcare decision-making process; it has been found that patients who are engaged in their healthcare tend to be healthier. More than half of patients expect digital patient engagement capabilities from their healthcare providers. Patient engagement involves people taking a more active role in their care, facilitated by healthcare organizations. Patient engagement solutions can come in many forms, including a web application, mobile app, patient portal, or a digital front door. An increase in patient engagement has multiple benefits, including improved health outcomes, better care, and lower costs. Actively engaged patients tend to look after themselves more than non-engaged patients; therefore, they are likely to have fewer emergency visits and incur lower hospital charges. People should be able to access patient engagement solutions to better manage their care at every step of their healthcare journey. Below we discuss some of the most wanted patient engagement solutions.
Patient scheduling software
Everyone nowadays works full time and has an increasingly busy schedule, and the idea of calling clinics during office hours to make a private healthcare consultation isn’t appealing to most. Better yet, patients call and are expected to wait on hold, chewing up more of their valuable time. Bothersome protocols lead to dissatisfied patients. People want the freedom to self-schedule, reschedule, and cancel medical appointments online at any time on any device without the help of practice staff. 81% of patients require the ability to schedule their appointment via a secure patient scheduling software. With such software patients are able to schedule and manage appointments at their convenience from a computer, tablet, or phone. Advanced medical office scheduling software eliminates scheduling errors ensuring that patients receive the right appointment at the right time. This type of solution is more patient-centric as patients can view the provider’s schedule and pick a conflict-free consultation time that suits them, rather than being given the next available appointment. Patient scheduling software shortens the time between when the appointment is requested and the actual consultation with a healthcare provider, decreasing the wait-time for medical attention.
HIPAA compliant messaging
Some conversations can’t wait till the next medical appointment; that’s why 70% of people say they would rather choose a medical provider that communicates with their patients via HIPAA compliant messaging. Patients should be able to select their preferred method of communication; this can range between SMS, email, or patient portal notifications. Healthcare providers should honor a patient’s communication preferences, ensure that the patient’s contact details are up to date, and prevent any miscommunication that may be construed as spam. Patient-provider HIPAA compliant messaging allows patients and caregivers to send and receive electronic messages to their healthcare providers. Patients can communicate important questions about their care, accounts, and lab results via SMS, emails, and in-patient-portal messages. Privacy is vital; that’s why healthcare providers make sure to communicate with their patients in a HIPAA compliant manner. Patients may not monitor their devices 24/7; therefore, pop-up notifications should not include any sensitive information, for example, “Your gynecological exam is scheduled for Wednesday the 5th”. Any healthcare professional knows to toe the line when it comes to patients’ privacy and HIPAA compliance, and extreme care is taken to ensure that no protected healthcare information is leaked through any communication method.
Patient check-in software
More than ever, patients do not want to loiter around in a crowded clinic’s waiting room, filling out countless forms, most of which are redundant as the clinic should already have the requested information. The intake process can now be completed remotely so that patients can fill out all the forms from their home or in the clinic’s parking lot, avoiding spending lengthy amounts of time in clinic waiting rooms with Patient check-in software. 81% of patients want to be able to complete enrollment, clinical history, and consent forms online on a device of their choosing before their consultation. Patients can leisurely go through specific appointment required agreements and consent forms ensuring they understand and consent to all the appointment requirements. Insurance and billing can also be handled remotely. Pay account balances and copay payments in a patient intake solution. Some forms can be automatically filled out by the clinic’s source system so that patients don’t have to enter the same information time and time again. Patient check-in software increases practice efficiency, data accuracy (contact information, personal information, emergency contact, address, etc) and decreases wait times, resulting in a better in-person experience.
Consolidated piecemealed patient engagement platforms
Patients have come to expect the same flexibility and autonomy they experience with consumer-facing apps found in industries like retail, banking, and ridesharing but have had to settle for a disjointed set of patient engagement platforms, each with its own function and login protocols. Many healthcare organizations use piecemeal multiple third-party tools to cover all of their patient engagement needs. People already need to remember a plethora of passwords every day for multiple accounts/services. Patients don’t want to create multiple usernames and passwords to use all the patient engagement solutions provided by one healthcare organization. Ideally, healthcare organizations should provide a single, user-friendly interface that allows patients access to important patient engagement solutions with one login.
A cohesive patient engagement experience on one branded platform increases a patient’s comfort, and confidence bolsters satisfaction, and holds patients’ satisfaction longer, leading to heightened engagement and, therefore, improved outcomes.
When it comes to selecting a healthcare provider, it’s important to choose one that puts the patient’s needs and wants before anything else. Healthcare no longer needs to be a complex maze that patients often navigate alone. Patient engagement solutions aid patients in taking control of their healthcare, partnering with healthcare professionals. Healthcare authorities have also made transparency a priority so that patients are the most informed they can be when it comes to healthcare. Patients have the right to their medical records as well as itemized billing. Healthcare organizations can provide both of these things, and more with a patient engagement solution, failure to do so can result in costly fines and litigation.
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