7 Ways to Improve Digital Patient Experiences Over In-Person Appointments
The healthcare system has undergone a massive digital transformation in the last decade, converting “paper” patient data to Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery. Now, it finds itself amidst a new wave of change: The Digital Patient Experience.
Unlike the previous change, the digital patient experience was not driven by regulatory measures but by the gradual increase in consumerism in the healthcare system over the past two decades, as portrayed by the rise in the number of medical apps, wearables, walk-in clinics, and more.
Initially, the shift to digital patient experience was relatively slow. However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic caused a” digital shock “that tremendously fuelled the rate at which the healthcare system adopted this new trend.
Today, digital medical presence and self-managed care are growing requisites, with more than 50% of patients expecting healthcare providers to have digital capabilities, according to Accenture’s 2019 Digital Health Consumer Survey.
Below is a discussion of ways to improve a patient’s digital experience:
1. Use of AI in Managing and Securing Health Data
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is ideal for recording and storing large amounts of patient data, including those captured on mobile health apps. Moreover, AI can help healthcare providers better analyze the data.
An Accenture survey states that AI has the potential to reduce the number of unnecessary in-patient doctor visits each year. This is because it can augment diagnoses and even identify diseases based on retina scans, facial features, X-rays, and speech, thereby making it possible for patients to recognize and begin diagnosing their symptoms before visiting a doctor.
In addition to empowering patients, it also enables physicians to take more accurate medical analyses while eliminating any chances of human error.
2. Offer Online Scheduling
Online scheduling enables patients to directly book appointments onto their doctor’s schedule. As such, it eliminates such inconveniences as having to wait for business hours to schedule an appointment.
Moreover, scheduling appointments online is easy and takes only a few minutes. Studies have shown that 80% of healthcare consumers prefer physicians who offer online scheduling because of the convenience it affords them.
3. Develop Patient Portals
A healthcare provider must have a patient portal in this day and age — the portal brings together information pertinent to the patient’s medical status in a single and easily accessible location.
A comprehensive portal should encompass things like bill payment, access to lab results, appointment scheduling, patient health information/education, after-visit summary, a provider-patient communication channel, feedback collection mechanisms, and reminders of screenings and checkups.
A comprehensive patient portal enables patients to take an active role in managing their health by providing them with direct access to their medical information. It also provides an open line of communication and an ongoing feedback loop between the health provider and the patient. Patients can, therefore, conveniently get their healthcare solutions through the portal.
4. Provision of Remote Monitoring and Wearable Devices
The recent technological advancements have led to a surge in the development of portable devices and mobile apps that enable patients to monitor and track their health progress. Remote patient monitoring capabilities are endless, including monitoring weight and blood pressure and providing real-time data on patients with high-risk conditions such as asthma.
One such technology that has revolutionized healthcare is mySugr. This technology is paired to a mobile app and connected blood glucose meters with diabetes educators who analyze patients’ data and provide them with one-on-one coaching. mySugr diabetes app allows its users to do many things, including taking pictures of their meals to track carbs, setting tasks to help them focus on specific treatments, view their estimated HbA1C, and get advice from Certified Diabetes Educators. Patients who use mobile apps such as mySugr can conveniently monitor their health without going to the hospital for regular checkups.
5. Making Healthcare More Accessible with Telemedicine
With many medical providers adopting telemedicine, patients can now get medical assistance on-demand from the comfort of their homes. Even though telemedicine is still a relatively new concept, a report by Mordor intelligence suggests that its global value will be more than $66 billion by the end of 2021.
Telemedicine enables patients to schedule video visits with doctors instead of having to visit a hospital. Patients can get medical care for various chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, and mental health.
The benefits accrued from telemedicine are far-reaching. According to a study, telemedicine patients recorded 48% fewer total hospital days, 31% fewer hospital admissions, and were overall more engaged in their healthcare. The reason behind people being more involved in their healthcare is that telemedicine is more accessible compared to in-patient appointments where, sometimes, you have to travel a long distance to get to your appointment.
6. Listen to Your Patients Online
Online reviews have become a viable way of not only assessing how satisfied patients are, but they are also a great information source to improve your service delivery.
According to DigitalCommerce 360 study, 84% of patients rely on online reviews to assess a physician. Moreover, 77% of the patients surveyed stated that checking online reviews is their first step when searching for new healthcare providers.
That said, healthcare providers must offer excellent services to get good reviews. But more importantly, they should actively check patient reviews about their services to make adjustments to meet their expectations.
7. Help Your Patients Make Better Decisions with SEM
It’s a known fact that many people go online to find reliable healthcare providers for their medical needs. For instance, they could be looking for a specific facility or treatment to enhance their health outcomes.
The healthcare provider’s job is to inform patients that they can meet their healthcare needs. They can achieve this by using search engine marketing. As such, healthcare providers should provide useful information on the types of specialized treatment they offer via blogs and social media platforms to help patients quickly locate them. Also, they should publish educative articles on various health and wellness topics, such as how to best manage medical conditions like diabetes and cancer.
While it’s a fact that in-patient appointments are still an essential part of healthcare delivery, given that some medical conditions need a hands-on approach, the emergence of telehealth has improved healthcare delivery. Many factors play a part in getting a positive digital experience. However, the ones listed above are among the vital steps you should take to improve your patient satisfaction and retention.
You can visit www.healthUp.care to learn more about our technology-enabled ecosystem for people with chronic conditions to improve outcomes and reduce costs.
