‘How soon can you see me?’ Reimagining efficiency in healthcare

Efficient patient care becomes the expectation

The pandemic spurred a rapid shift in how patients engage with healthcare and the experiences they expect from their providers. Telehealth use surged in the spring of 2020, with use in April of 2020 about 78 times higher than in February of 2020, according to a McKinsey & Company study.

A study from consulting firm Accenture found that about 44% of patients used new devices or apps to manage their conditions remotely when in-person visits were not possible during the pandemic.

Patients didn’t just tolerate the changes or adapt — they embraced new and new-to-them technologies, including video and phone appointments, remote monitoring devices, and quick access to care teams. And, crucially, they don’t want to go back to the pre-pandemic way of doing things.

When it comes to how patients view providers, technology isn’t just a nice-to-have. Physicians Practice reports that increasingly, consumers see convenience, provider responsiveness, and user-friendly technologies as the most important factors in their patient experience. 

Tech solutions can boost efficiency in healthcare

Providers who don’t take full advantage of technology solutions risk missing out on valuable time, work, and cost-saving benefits. After all, which is faster — a direct message through the patient portal or six or seven phone calls over the course of several days? Which carries a lower administrative burden — in-person blood pressure checks twice a week or a remote patient monitoring device that securely delivers data directly to a patient’s electronic chart?

Well-equipped patient portals are critical tools for providers seeking to boost patient satisfaction while managing their own workflow. Patients appreciate the faster response time and personal feel of a direct message, while care teams benefit from less time spent answering patient queries. Furthermore, self-service tools such as online appointment scheduling, medication refill requests, virtual waiting rooms, and online bill pay can streamline administrative processes and improve revenue flow.

For chronic care patients who often require multiple visits per month, remote monitoring devices paired with care coordination services can cut down on time spent in-clinic without compromising quality of care.

Interoperability: the connecting thread

All healthcare information systems — electronic health records, online patient portals, telehealth platforms, chronic care management systems, and practice management systems — should all be able to talk. Not just to each other — to other organizations as well.

Interoperability is the ability of different health information systems to exchange and use data among stakeholders, including patients, providers, and payers. When patient data can be shared between providers, health systems, and care settings, the benefits include more efficient and effective care with lower costs and better outcomes. Care teams and staff also typically see improved workflows and better care coordination when the correct information is available as soon as it’s needed.

As organizations evaluate how to achieve data interoperability in healthcare and continue to work toward this goal, government guidance and standards will continue to evolve. For healthcare providers, that means choosing health information systems and interoperability engines from vendors that are well-equipped to navigate both technical and regulatory issues.

A fundamental shift to efficient patient care

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally shifted how patients view and participate in healthcare. Easy access, personal connections with providers, and convenience are critical factors for patients as they make healthcare decisions. With the right technology and interoperability solutions, providers can offer the experience patients expect. By managing workflows and reducing costs, they can better focus on what matters most: providing the highest quality patient care.

Transform medical office operations and enrich patient care with a system designed to improve workflow efficiencies and meet the ever-changing needs of your practice.

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