In an industry that has long felt antiquated due to long wait times, old-fashioned communication tactics, and a lack of easy access to information, an evolution in technology is a welcome change in healthcare. Recent technological advancements and trends have greatly improved not only the patient experience, but also the efficiency of medical offices. Let’s look at what technology is improving patient and medical staff satisfaction today.
Patient Portals Promote Transparency & Efficiency
Online patient portals have come a long way. Medical bills, appointment information, results, and so much more are now just a click away for patients. For anyone who has spent the better part of an hour on hold with a medical office, the ability to schedule or request new appointments online is a game changer. Online portals not only allow for easy scheduling but also act as a calendar for your future appointments and often provide pre-registration paperwork ahead of time. They also free up time and resources in medical offices. With less time tied up on the phone or getting patients checked in with all the relevant paperwork, medical staff can focus on other tasks.
The most impactful difference in the patient experience comes from the access that patient portals provide. Access to your medical information has not always been the easiest to come by. Patient portals can provide patients with visit summaries and access to test results when available to the medical office. Additionally, many patient portals have a messaging component that allows two-way communication between patients and medical staff. Patients can quickly ask questions about medication or specific symptoms without picking up the phone. These features, again, free up valuable time and resources in medical offices, making for a more efficient workday.
AI Does Wonders For Communication
When you think about AI in healthcare, you might first think of medical research, data, and diagnosis. While AI is making an impact in those areas, it is also impacting the patient-doctor relationship by offering solutions for seemingly simple problems. It may come as a surprise that new AI solutions aim to improve the face-to-face patient-doctor relationship, not detract from it. During any doctor visit, the doctor and/or medical staff are responsible for drafting a report and record of the interaction. New innovations in AI allow doctors and staff to record conversations during appointments and generate a report. The result? More focus is placed on the patient and less on the computer or clipboard in front of them. This frees up valuable time for the doctor, encourages undivided attention and focus, and improves the patient experience, leaving patients feeling heard and understood.
AI can also be leveraged to simplify communication. The patient portal opens communication with our doctors like never before, but what if we don’t understand what’s being communicated? That’s where generative AI comes in. As generative AI impacts almost every industry, healthcare is no different. Doctors can use this technology to translate complex medical jargon and terminology into layperson’s terms. Once again, this allows doctors and medical staff to skip the step of further explanation and saves them time while leaving the patient with clarity and a more positive experience.
Technology in the healthcare industry continues to evolve and improve the lives of doctors and their patients. Our experts at Xcelacore can help your organization leverage new trends and innovation to improve patient relations and efficiency. Contact us today to get started.
