In today’s world, healthcare is undergoing rapid change across the spectrum. Advances in science and technology are leading to improvements in treating illnesses and injuries thus giving healthcare providers the tools necessary to improve the overall health of their patients. This coupled with government mandates allowing all citizens access to healthcare, has increased the overall demand for healthcare services. Increased demands for healthcare services are stressing most provider offices in many areas.
In fact, in an April 5th, 2016 article for CNBC, Dan Mangan reports that in a survey done by Sequence, it was determined that 85% of patients indicated long wait times at the provider’s office to be the most stressful part of going to the doctor.
Increases in technology and government mandates for implementing said technology creates a path for making healthcare offices more efficient while continuing to keep or improve the quality of care afforded to the clients/patients. As early as 1999, Roy Aymond wrote in the AAFP, “Knowing your costs, taking action to improve your effectiveness and making the best use of your staff will make your practice more rewarding — and not just economically. But economically, it will help you generate a better bottom line and make you more attractive to newer patients and health plans.”
Healthchat is a one of a kind type of telemedicine application that can be leveraged to improve medical practice efficiency. The application records video that can be securely transmitted between provider and patient; provider to nurse; and provider to provider, within and outside of a practice.
Today, the amount of time providers spend with each patient is limited not only by how much time there is in a workday or by the number of patients that need to be seen; but also based on reimbursement agreements between insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid, and the providers.
Healthchat is a tool that is used to increase the amount of patients who are seen and/or treated without the added volume in the office. Let’s take for instance, a person who is well known to the provider who has a bout of sinusitis once a year. The patient leaves a video message for the provider advising of symptoms and what they believe is needed. The provider views the message at their convenience then replies to the patient with directions i.e. treatment plan, prescriptions etc. This type of service can be considered an office visit.
How can this improve the efficiency of medical practices?
- Increased number of visits per day increases revenue and profit.
- Treating more patients decreases the number of people in your waiting room.
- Less people in the waiting room lowers stress levels for patients and office staff due to decreased wait times.
- Less people in the waiting room also leads to more time that providers can spend with patients that are onsite.
- Providers can make better assessments of patients as they are able to see and hear them remotely through video.
- Providers can screen patients and determine whether they need to come into the office, go to an Urgent Care Facility, go to an ER, or see a specialist.
- The communication between patient and provider is a well documented record of a patient’s condition which can be shared between providers to show the actual symptoms that an individual experienced instead of a second hand report.
Benefits for patients include faster access to their own healthcare provider, decreased wait times in the provider’s office, and convenience for busy schedules.
Rewards for providers include increased profits, improved documentation, more streamlined work processes, as well as extra space and time.
For both providers and patients, the entire healthcare experience is improved. Healthchat has the ability to improve medical practice efficiency while making the entire experience more pleasant for you, your staff and your patients.
