Going beyond the portal: Optimized patient engagement solutions

Clinicians understand that each patient case must be treated on the person’s own terms. Customized care is important because every patient is unique. So why should every provider’s office implement the same patient engagement solutions?

Before, during and after each visit, patients need to remain engaged with their care for the best possible health outcomes. To do that, providers need tailored healthcare technology that solves every particular pain point.

Extending the basic EHR platform

A certified EHR platform with an intuitive patient portal is a good start, but there are many other effective ways to improve patient engagement. Each provider has unique needs and a one-size-fits-all solution won’t fully streamline an organization’s workflow. Instead, providers should seek out customized solutions that address their most pressing needs.

Consider this example: A rural provider serves a patient population that is dominated by baby boomers. While he could invest in digital billing solutions, a Pew study showed that members of that generation are split between those who embrace technology and significant percentages who do not regularly use a computer. Therefore, this doctor decides to invest in a mail tracking system that provides confirmation that every billing statement was delivered to its intended recipient.

Another provider might see better ROI from implementing a social media engagement solution. Yet another physician office may opt for a suite of solutions that contains all of the above. Essentially, providers should work with their healthcare technology vendor to pinpoint which solutions will provide the best ROI for their unique situation.

Patient satisfaction depends on engagement at every step of the care experience.

Engagement after the visit

Engaging patients after they leave the office is an interesting challenge because there are many options available to today’s forward-thinking physicians. For example, doctors who have invested in customized healthcare technology solutions can send secure lab results direct to patients with no lag time.

This is important because it optimizes the provider’s meaningful use efforts. Physicians who are eligible for the Quality Reporting Program from Medicare can use data from this technology to submit quality improvement measures to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS).

More importantly, a post-visit follow up can drastically improve patient satisfaction and will help build loyalty within the provider’s patient population – a key strategy for reducing financial risk.

Gaining patient loyalty

Over the past decade, there has been a significant change in how providers view patient loyalty. There’s little doubt that the healthcare industry has become more similar to consumer-facing industries. If a patient is unsatisfied with his or her care – it’s on to the next provider.

Hospitals & Health Networks Magazine reported that transparency is a defining factor of patient loyalty. In today’s competitive marketplace, patients want to know more about every detail of their care. That means providing access to private health information is a good strategy for improving patient loyalty.

By making it easier for patients to view medical records, chat with doctors remotely and receive on-demand notifications, providers can gain greater financial stability.

Controlling costs at the office

Patient engagement efforts should be mutually beneficial. While providers can treat some options as value-added services, there’s more to be said about gaining financial stability through optimized patient engagement practices.

A survey conducted by the American Society for Quality explained that patient engagement technology is a leading method for improving care coordination and controlling costs. In fact, 69 percent of physician respondents said consistent online communication with patients is one of the best ways to improve patient satisfaction.

The same survey revealed that complicated technology is a big barrier to implementing patient engagement solutions. That’s why providers should avoid one-size-fits-all solutions.

Tailored technology from Tangible Solutions will help improve patient engagement at your office. Contact us to learn more about how we can help your practice succeed in providing the best care possible.