5 Ways You Can Meet Your Patient’s Needs by Updating Your Doctor Office
Every day, new technology makes old processes easier. Within the healthcare sector, technology has inspired innovation in physical procedures, diagnostics, administrative tasks, and communication.
Projections show that by 2025, the digital technology market size will reach $509.2 billion. As the sector grows, healthcare will become increasingly accessible and should improve in quality. This market growth can generally be attributed to the widespread use of smartphones and other devices, such as tablets and laptops, that can access the Internet, run apps, and record photos and video.
Tech trends have helped healthcare organizations meet the growing demand for care by making internal processes more efficient. If you run a private practice or other care facilities, here are a few ways you can meet the changing needs of patients by updating your office:
- Take Advantage of Telehealth and Virtual Appointments
While walk-in clinics play an essential role, they come with a variety of drawbacks, including long wait times and congested waiting rooms. Thankfully, virtual telehealth technology has become increasingly popular. Telehealth systems allow patients to see their doctors virtually without leaving the comfort of their own homes.
Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices and VoIP desk phone, to offer health care services remotely. Unlike telemedicine, telehealth allows doctors to improve and support long-distance services, patient and professional health-related education, public health initiatives, and health administration.
With a smartphone or laptop, you can offer virtual appointments, allowing you to attend to your patients via online video conferencing or video calls from anywhere. For instance, systems like TempDev’s NextGen consulting enable your patients to receive ongoing medical care when an in-person visit isn’t possible or required.
- Adopt Artificial Intelligence
The development of artificially intelligent machines, which can process information and provide decision-making data, has given rise to new innovative health technologies. In healthcare, AI applications help improve the speed and accuracy of the diagnosis process. AI can also analyze incoming information from patient electronic health records (EHR), such as a list of symptoms and previous diagnostics, to predict potential health problems.
Other ways AI technology can benefit your medical office include:
- Increased workforce productivity through assistance in automation
- Clinical operations optimization
- Personalization with intelligent image acquisition
- Prioritizing complex/acute cases
- Diagnostic precision through quantitative imaging
- Start Using Wearable Technology
From T-shirts that can track your heart rate to smartwatches that tell you how many steps you walk each day, it’s no secret wearable technology has significantly impacted health and wellness practices. Wearable tech doesn’t just improve self-help; it can also make professional healthcare more accurate, convenient, and efficient for both patients and doctors.
As a physician, you have to rely on your patients to tell you how they’re feeling. With the help of wearable devices, you can access patient health before they even arrive for their appointment. Whether a patient is recovering from cardiac disease, resting a torn ligament, or easing into a new exercise program after an injury, wearables monitor the patient’s vital signs, and their doctors can monitor them from afar.
- Implement the Use of Augmented Reality
Augmented reality (AR) relays real-time digital information and media, such as 3D models, via the camera view of a smartphone, tablet, PC, or wearable technology. What are a few ways augmented reality can benefit doctors?
- On-screen vein mapping, which makes injections and blood drawing much more comfortable for the patient.
- Virtual displays of wounds and injuries, which allows physicians and nurses to plan how they bandage they area.
- Better patient tracking with intuitive visual displays of EHR information.
- Surgery and treatment simulations that give patients an idea of how complex procedures work.
- 24/7 Access to Patient Records and Appointment Setting
Adopting EHR technology can benefit both practitioners and patients. By reducing the likelihood of errors, these systems can save time and money and potentially save lives.
Communication between physicians and patients can be significantly improved with the use of EHR, allowing each party access to a patient’s medical history rather than a snapshot-type overview from a previous visit. This access allows for a more in-depth evaluation and enables doctors to reach an accurate diagnosis more quickly. The use of EHR also allows multiple care providers, regardless of location, to simultaneously access a patient’s record (when a patient is under the care of several doctors) from any computer.
Also, EHR can make it easier for doctors to follow up with patients. For example, this tech enables patients to book appointments online from the comfort of their homes.
Better Technology, Better Care
Technology trends have revolutionized the healthcare sector. Advancements in technology create incredible opportunities for doctors to better, more convenient care to their patients. If you’re a healthcare service provider, it’s time to upgrade your office with these medical technologies and gear up for a digital era to come.
