Advancement in medical science is transforming every segment of the healthcare ecosystem. From telemedicine to centralized medical records and price transparency in health plans, private clinics & hospitals are transitioning to a consumerist model of care.
In short, technology can be highly beneficial in improving the patient’s experience of the healthcare system. Here’s how:
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Better Line Of Communication
Improved communication is a critical requirement of every healthcare facility. And technology is playing an excellent role here. Patients are now using mobile applications and clinic websites to consult with physicians. They can avail e-prescriptions, schedule their appointments and get reminders about medications.
Additionally, clinics are using phone calls, texts, and emails to stay connected with their patients. They can provide real-time updates about their services. For instance, sharing digital copies of blood test reports via email address and phone number.
In fact, a recent survey reveals that 83% of patients prefer clinics that provide consistent reminders about medications, exercise, and appointments.
Virtual reality is additionally enhancing the patient and their family’s experience. They can take a virtual tour of the hospital to learn about the services and amenities. It is especially useful if someone has to be admitted.
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Offering Transparency In Healthcare
Transparency in healthcare operations is a critical matter. It aids the patient’s trust in the service and boosts credibility. However, managing a healthcare clinic is a daunting task in itself. Consequently, transparency in health plans and pricing is put on the back burner.
Medical institutions require reliable solutions that assist with revenue cycle management, price transparency, and managed care.
Considering the same, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an action plan to set and raise the bar for high-value healthcare systems.
According to CMS guidelines, hospitals and clinics need to publish machine-readable files containing costs for all items and services they offer in health plans to their members. You can learn more about price transparency in healthcare here.
Nevertheless, the primary idea behind this step is to provide optimum care to the members. It allows them to learn about the total cost of service before they can receive it. Thereby, they can make well-versed decisions and avail of quality services.
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Eliminating Potential Medical Errors
According to the CDC’s report, preventable medical harms such as cancer and heart diseases are the third-most-common cause of fatality in the U.S. Shocking, isn’t it?
Of course, these medical errors are not intentional, yet they contribute to poor patient experience.
The survey conducted by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists asserts that the key reason behind these errors is the lack of adequate patient information.
To prevent this situation, medical institutions are recommended to use electronic health records (EHRs). It’ll empower the doctors and staff by providing accurate information about medical alerts, electronic prescribing, and clinical flags. As a result, the patient’s safety will improve.
Not to forget, the use of EHR will ensure information safety. Thus, patients and their family members will feel assured.
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Effective Healthcare Access
Last but most importantly, due to technological advancements, the healthcare sector has become accessible. According to statistics, 51% of consumers consider the accessibility of service, irrespective of industry, as a major contributor to their decision-making process.
Simply put, even if your services are excellent and promise transparency, lack of accessibility will cause inconvenience to the patients. Thus, they might rethink their decision.
Fortunately, practical solutions such as mobile clinics, telehealth, and remote patient monitoring using advanced ambulances boost healthcare access.
During the emergency, doctors use video conferencing to instruct the fresher’s to attend to their patients. Institutions are using apps similar to GPS to discover the shortest route and reach patients on time.
As time is of the essence in healthcare, mobile clinics assist with primary care, ensuring the safety of patients.
What Does The Future Hold For The Healthcare Sector?
The future looks quite promising, considering the frequent updates and solutions made available to doctors, physicians, and other staff. Recent studies suggest that by 2053, Artificial Intelligence (AI) will significantly improve clinical decision-making and treatments. Robots will assist with overall operations, bringing more transparency to the sector. Eventually, it will improve the patient’s experience immensely.
To Sum It All Up
In the new health care landscape, it’s only natural that technology would step up to solve some of the biggest problems in health care; whether electronic medical records, mobile digitization, price transparency, remote monitoring and patient engagement, the future of medicine is technology. And as in many other industries, patients’ everyday experiences will only improve from here on out.
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