When it comes to improving people’s health, time is of the essence. Regardless of the illness, they want to be treated as soon as possible. In fact, over 20% of patients will change providers if they’re forced to wait too long at a practice. That’s why patient engagement platforms for physicians are a good idea.
How is this accomplished? By taking some of the workflow outside of the office. Through digital technology, physicians save a significant amount of time before the patient even sets foot in the door. Here are some key ways patient engagement platforms minimize wait times, leading to a more positive experience overall.
Make Online Appointments Available
Busy phone lines at a physician’s office mean long wait times before an appointment has even been made. A survey found that one-third of people are unwilling to be placed on hold, while another 27.6% were only willing to wait on hold for a minute! This means that patients might have a bad impression of a physician’s office even before their first visit, which isn’t great for business. Eliminate this hurdle altogether by allowing patients to schedule (and reschedule) their appointments easily from your website.
Collect All Relevant Data Pre-Visit
Nobody likes being handed a clipboard when they arrive at an office. It says to them, “you’re going to be here a while.” When it’s a patient’s first visit to a physician’s office, they’re usually confronted with a large stack of papers, which is both exhausting and time-consuming. Digital check-in avoids all of this. Through this solution, you empower patients to complete forms about demographic data, HPI, ROS, etc. from their own device at a time that’s convenient for them. For an especially quick workflow, find software that allows ID and insurance card capture so the patient doesn’t need to wait while you scan them in-office.
Have Screeners Digitally Completed Beforehand
Need a screener completed prior to the patient’s appointment? Certain patient engagement platforms allow physicians to digitally send out all necessary screeners to the patient so they aren’t inundated with them in the waiting room. This way, they’re able to take their time with the questions on the device of their choice. Sometimes the software will even allow for some customization if there’s a form or screener that needs modifications. If there’s something that isn’t included in one of the pre-made digital screeners, ask the vendor if that’s a possibility.
Automatically Send Instructions via Email or Text
Certain procedures require specific instructions to be given before the patient’s arrival. In this case, you must avoid human error for the appointment to run smoothly! Rather than relying on office staff to convey these instructions, the safer bet is for automation to take the leg work out of the process. Patient engagement software that is seamlessly integrated into an EHR has the ability to send specific instructions via text or email to the patient, which increases the likelihood that they’ll comply. In turn, this prevents costly delays. If the staff, for instance, forgets to mention to a patient that they must fast before their bloodwork, then a reschedule would be in order, wasting everyone’s time.
Make Patient Check-ins Contactless
Shortening face-to-face time with patients is not only more convenient, but it’s also a safer option. By investing in a patient engagement platform that promotes a contactless check-in, the possibility of virus transmission is lessened because there’s no need for patients to approach the front desk when they arrive. Instead, social distancing software allows staff to automatically instruct patients to wait in their car and text from their mobile device upon arrival. When the practice is ready for the patient, a text is sent instructing them to enter the building, saving them time in a busy waiting room.
Save Time Through DocResponse
Many advantages exist to making the patient journey a digital one, and DocResponse’s patient engagement platform is the perfect option for that transition. From a wide range of digital screeners to insurance/ID capture, their software has it all. Through their easy-to-learn solutions, physicians should expect:
- 11 minutes saved per visit
- 16 minute shorter wait times
- 2 more patients seen per day
Ready to save time at your practice? Schedule a demo to get started!