When it comes to bolstering the financial health and reputation of your medical practice, a top focus needs to be on improving the patient experience. The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a whole new set of healthcare technologies to help with that goal. These include telehealth, patient intake platforms, appointment management, and other digital solutions that give the patient a bigger role in the way they manage their office visits. For a practice, keeping up with these new technologies and being able to offer your patients these new service options is imperative for staying relevant and competitive in the increasingly crowded marketplace.
Selecting and implementing the right patient intake software will help streamline your practice and allow staff and patients to get what they need in a more secure, convenient way. However, there are numerous contactless patient intake solutions out there, and they all differ in their functionality and offerings. How do you determine which intake solution will be the most effective for your practice?
Here are a few of the features to evaluate when considering a patient intake platform:
Examine data security and privacy features
When seeking a contactless patient intake program for your medical practice, one of the most important features you’ll want is the ability for secure data transmission. In a recent survey conducted by The American Medical Association and Savvy Cooperative found that 75% of patients are extremely concerned about the lack of security and the inability to ensure their private healthcare data remains confidential.
Data privacy is essential in any medical setting, so be sure the software you’re considering has encryption capabilities and other security measures in place. You will also want to make sure that your software providers are compliant with HIPAA standards to ensure patient health data privacy. It’s also helpful to see if the vender has earned any standards/certificates in customer data security.
Platform stability and reliability are also important – and don’t just take the vendor’s word for it. Ask to see their uptime monitoring reports. This will give you an inside look at just how dependable their solution is. Nothing will aggravate your patients more than an unstable platform.
The best solutions automate
Consider integration and automation features when selecting a contactless patient intake software solution. This includes the ability to send automated texts/email reminders. Seamless integration with an Electronic Medical Record System (EMR) is another time saving convenience. Look for a pre-arrival intake solution that allows patients to fill out their information ahead of their appointment. This will greatly streamline the waiting room process. Incorporating a wide range of automated tasks will drastically improve the patient experience saving time, money, and hassle for both the patient and practice.
Importance of UX design
A positive, seamless user experience of the patient intake software is essential to its success. Since patients will be filling out their information from the comfort of their home or while on the go, the portal must be simple to navigate and work on mobile devices. Technology that is intuitive and easy-to-use for both patients and healthcare providers is essential for efficient navigation of the system. It’s strongly recommended that you seek a solution that offers a modern design, transparent navigation, and an appealing interface for maximum efficiency and patient satisfaction. Having a simple, but efficient design layout will go a long way.
Not only is having a stable patient intake system important for patients, but it also allows for the automation of a significant number of administrative tasks that the front office workers identify as most burdensome. This will help to alleviate the cumbersome tasks that the front office deals with on a day-to-day basis, especially in the midst of the healthcare labor crisis.
Consumers are increasingly demanding more convenience and control when it comes to their healthcare needs, and healthcare organizations are turning to digital health solutions to meet these needs. While it can be daunting to find the right fit, the quality of care at your practice will improve and both staff and patients will benefit from the implementation.
Hari Prasad
Hari Prasad is CEO of Yosi Health.
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