The past several years, we’ve seen the healthcare industry undergo a major transformation. However, many of those shifts were hastily patched together solutions enacted solely to keep work and patient care going during tumultuous times.
But with an alarming 81% of patients reporting dissatisfaction with their healthcare experience, organizations need to take a step back and reexamine the solutions they implemented. They need to consider if better, cheaper, more effective options are available to improve the customer experience.
With that in mind, here are some digital ways to enhance your operations and better serve your patients.
Digitize Data
Healthcare providers need to be able to quickly adapt to our ever-evolving digital world as patients expect digital-first experiences. If your healthcare organization can’t keep up, you’ll see patient satisfaction rates steadily drop.
To combat that decline, digitize your data with online forms, check-in, and appointment scheduling. Allow patients to fill in their information at their convenience before appointments. That way, they’re not sitting around waiting rooms filling out paper forms.
Additionally, make sure you invest in systems that talk to each other. Patients don’t want to continuously fill out the same intake and medical history forms simply because different departments need the info. End those data silos and put that data to work for you by creating an experience that makes patient care easier and faster—send automatic appointment reminders, do follow-up surveys, and anticipate additional care needs. By crafting a caring, personalized experience, patients will feel valued and be more likely to stay.
Reevaluate Your Tech Stack
Are the systems you implemented during the pandemic holding up? Survey employees and stakeholders to see where they might be wasting two hours a day on inefficient tasks and systems. Then, research all-in-one solutions that allow users to digitize paper processes, automate workflows, and communicate better.
For example, no-code tools are a great solution. These tools enable workers in any department to create the processes they need to get work done—without needing support from IT. From onboarding patients and collecting medical histories to generating patient invoices and accepting payments, no-code software makes it quick and easy to develop solutions to your most difficult problems.
Prepare for the Future
From curbside check-ins and parking lot waiting rooms to telemedicine and virtual care, patients now expect consumer-like experiences. But while you’re implementing and improving upon those interactions, don’t forget to anticipate what might be coming next.
- Can patients text issues, complications, photos, etc. after hours and get a response from providers?
- Can patients request medication refills through your system?
- Are your systems able to adapt to evolving needs?
You need to be anticipating where the industry is headed and start investing in technology that supports those endeavors. By doing so, you’ll join the 70% of digitally optimized organizations who rely on a future-forward mindset when selecting technology. Additionally, by anticipating patient and employee needs, you’ll be better positioned to handle future upheavals and changes in the healthcare industry.
By implementing these solutions, you’ll be viewed as a forward-thinking organization that cares for its patients—and values their time. You’ll save your employees time and increase retention rates across the board. Moreover, not only will you be ready to adapt to any situation and innovate faster, but you’ll increase patient satisfaction at the same time.