When done the old-fashioned way, tasks such as confirming appointments, delivering lab results, and calling in pharmacy refills, means hours of manual tracking and daily phone calls by office staff. Other expenses involved in communicating and following up with patients include postage, office stationery and even outsourcing key functions such as collections. Advances in technology have made it possible for practices to work smarter, save money and provide better customer service through the automation of simple, repeatable tasks.
Did you know that patient no-shows for many healthcare providers average 30%? Basic automation tools on the market today have been shown to increase patient communications and decrease no-shows. Additionally, think of the ways practices would benefit from a system that could fill last minute cancellations, deliver pre-visit and past due billing reminders and track patient’s histories in order to ensure that they receive timely reminders of periodic or follow-up visits. Doctors and staff alike would be freed up to concentrate on other critical practice functions.
When considering a system for your practice, keep in mind the following tips:
- Make sure the service is HIPAA compliant.
- Make sure the service will integrate seamlessly with any existing systems in your office, such as EMR or billing software.
- Make sure you and your staff will be provided free ongoing training and support.
- Remember to ask about extras features. In some cases, you can personalize the technology by using the doctor’s voice when contacting patients.
- The most cost effective systems are web based, meaning there is no hardware or software to purchase or upgrade.
Maintaining effective patient communications needn’t be cumbersome or costly. With the right tools, you can implement communication strategies that ensure improved patient loyalty while boosting your practice’s overall financial performance.
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
David Swart is the co-founder of Doctor Dial, a company providing advanced communication systems to physicians and medical practices. EXCLUSIVE: Clients of the Florida Healthcare Law Firm will receive a 50% discount on the service setup fee when they register at http://drdial.com/?a=flhclaw. Call David Swart direct with any questions at 954-946-4960 x105 or email him at david@drdial.com.
Disclaimer: The Florida Healthcare Law Firm does not receive any compensation for running articles such as this one. Our only aim is to ensure that our clients receive helpful information from reliable sources.
