Every professional activity can be treated as a business. Indeed, the core of a business is the build sustainability and stability – two objectives that all professionals share. Consequently, and as surprising as it might sound, the healthcare sector needs to be described in those business terms too.
However, building sustainability and stability in an environment that is often perceived as challenging – the NHS has limited funding opportunities –, stressful and crowded – some patients have to wait several weeks if not months to receive treatments – seems like an impossible dream.
But, with the appropriate business mindset, medical practices can improve their services and the satisfaction of their patients through the implementation of helpful technology. Indeed, in many ways, high tech devices and solutions can represent a one-off investment that, comparatively speaking, frees up time and money for more urgent projects. Can technology really improve your practice? Read further to find out.
Make it easier for patients to book an appointment
Even though most patients could book an appointment online, most patients prefer to make a phone call. In fact, according to the latest surveys, only 1 on 20 patients prefer to use the online appointment tool to see their GP.
Why, after the introduction of an online system, do people continue to waste time and resource to arrange an appointment? Because they find it too confusing. By the end of 2018, the NHS is planning the launch of an app that should help to improve the use of digital appointments.
But, you can already address some of the issues that patients face with a helpful website. Indeed, the addition of an AI-supported booking system can help patients to answer their queries and guide them through the appointment steps. You can also introduce relevant content that matches your patients’ complaints, location, age, and situation so that you can help them to address small issues before they can escalate.
Keep the waiting room friendly
Nobody likes the waiting room. It’s an area that can create stress and frustration for your patients, making their initial health issues more difficult to diagnose. Indeed, increased heart rate, cold sweat, and high blood pressure, which are typical indications of stress, could affect your diagnosis process.
Consequently, designing a waiting room that is as relaxing as possible can dramatically help you to identify what’s wrong with your patients. Waiting is a passive activity that is imposed on patients; there is nothing they can do to reduce the waiting time. However, they can transform the passive event into an active and interactive experience. The addition of a free WiFi network can ensure that your patients can stay connected – and nothing kills time better than digital entertainment!
Ultimately, you need to offer a diagnostic
Medical equipment doesn’t last forever. And even with the best care and maintenance in the world, your medical machines might start to show signs of wear and tear. For instance, a portable ultrasound machine can offer an advantageous replacement for your old ultrasound station.
Indeed, the quality of the image is primordial to the diagnosis with ultrasound checks. With more and more medical issues failing to be diagnosed on time due to faulty equipment, you can’t afford to take chances. Tech devices that are beyond repairs or that don’t perform as they should need to be replaced. Investing now can save you a lot of troubles in the long term.
Get those reminders right
How do you best remind patients of their upcoming appointments, whether it’s annual checkup or regular appointments? The most effective way is to collect contact preferences from the start. Ultimately, patients who provide more than one contact option show the highest response rate.
Creating an effective set of reminders can increase visits and medical care quality. A combination of email, text, and call can be useful. If your surgery uses an app, you can also send a notification via the app prior to the appointment.
What do patients really think about your practice?
How do you make sure that your practice stays in business? While there’s no indication that medical practice would be shut down, it’s fair to say that now that patients have more flexibility in their choices of GP surgery, they are likely to pick the practice that meets their requirements best.
In other words, knowing how your patients feel about your services and surgery can help you to make the necessary improvements. Online reviews and ratings are especially useful because they are made public. They can, therefore, help to attract new patients. You can also conduct structured and formal interviews and publish the results on your site/app.
Thinking of your medical practice in terms of business helps you to shift your mindset when to comes to technology. Tech devices are not only part of your everyday work equipment, but they are also designed to facilitate diagnosis, improve patient experience, and maintain your audience engaged.