Patients today, more than ever before, want to have more control over their healthcare. They want to participate actively and make informed decisions concerning their health.
They’re no longer willing and happy to blindly follow the doctor’s authority. Also, now, before consulting doctors, many will first go online to search for opinions and information.
As a result, the relationship between the patient and doctor has changed. It has shifted from being a relationship based on the paternalism of the doctor’s unquestionable authority and knowledge to an almost equal partnership.
Because of this, patients are expecting and looking for more transparency. Fortunately, health providers can ensure it by embracing technology, such as healthcare document scanners. Even more so, they can improve patient satisfaction if they:
Table of Contents
1. Use Mobile Health Apps
Doctors and healthcare providers can utilize the power of mobile health apps to a great length, improving not only patient satisfaction but also health outcomes by:
. Engaging patients in self-management and self-monitoring
Different health apps educate and inform patients how to manage and self-monitor their conditions in-between clinical visits, improving medical outcomes and overall patient satisfaction.
. Better managing the wait time
There are apps that patients can use to check what the closest healthcare facility is with the shortest estimated wait time in the emergency room. Additionally, mobile apps and other virtual solutions are an excellent way for physicians to improve patient satisfaction and workflow.
. Providing information in a timely, effective, and safe manner
To avoid patients looking for unverified and dubious answers online, healthcare providers can prepare pamphlets, booklets, and other documents that are readily available online for patients to read and study.
2. Use Other Telehealth Solutions
Embracing the digital nature of telehealth solutions can positively impact patient satisfaction. This is because doctors can use them to:
. Provide patients with full access to their medical records
Giving patients full access to their medical records, test results, and provider notes allows them to be more informed, helping them independently search and learn more about their condition. When they get to see their health provider, they can already ask more specific questions for them to understand the given situation and treatment better.
. Provide e-prescription and electronic medication management services
With proper safety procedures set in place, providing e-prescription and medication management services enhances patient safety, reduces drug costs, and enables the patient to access their prescription records.
. Provide services in remote areas
Using digital tools and communication enables doctors to provide services to patients in difficult to access (remote) areas.
. Cut costs of healthcare delivery
Non-urgent medical issues or check-ups don’t take as much time. Also, often, there’s no need for an actual physical appointment. Having these virtual appointments allows patients to significantly cut costs on travel and parking, and they won’t have to take unpaid leave from work.
. Technological Solutions Can Significantly Improve Patient Satisfaction
With technological advances, the relationship between doctors and patients has changed. Patients demand equal position in the interaction and more control over their healthcare. Doctors and healthcare providers should utilize the power of modern-day advancements to help and safely guide patients on the road to recovery. By doing so, they’ll be able to increase patient satisfaction and overall health outcomes.
