Healthy Technology — How It Helps Healthcare Providers and Customers Thrive
The pace of technological change can leave you breathless, and not because you need to go to the doctor. In fact, as technology makes our lives easier, it’s expanding into every industry — One where it’s having a profound impact is in healthcare.
It’s easy to see why. Faster, better access to medical information, apps that make it easier for a physician to do their job, and giving the patient complete insight into their health is good for everyone. In fact, it’s vital for health providers to start adopting this new technology so they don’t get left behind.
The thing is, it’s all about how technology makes your patients’ lives easier. If you understand and support their healthcare journey through technology, it builds trust with your patients and gives you an edge against your competition.
Getting the skinny on your patients.
It’s vital to have all the latest info on your patients — Medications, lifestyle changes, symptoms, medical history — You name it. Unfortunately, something most of us hate is form filling. That’s why being able to get and record information from your clients electronically makes things much easier.
How the technology helps your patients
- It’s less frustrating for the customer to provide the information, so they’re happier
- It’s easy to transfer information between health providers, meaning a complete picture of care.
- Software can automatically prompt for follow-up questions, so you build a complete picture.
- You can tend to all your patient’s medical needs, with a holistic approach.
Having healthcare information at your fingertips. Diagnostic tools and information are getting even more portable and user-friendly.
From patient charts and details on a tablet, to wearable diagnostic devices providing real-time data, doctors and patients have access to a wealth of information.
How the technology helps your patients
- Real time diagnostics means doctors have access to the latest information and can tailor treatment accordingly.
- Easy access to test results, charts, and treatment plans ensures a complete understanding of patient needs and conditions.
- This provides a more flexible, reactive, and caring approach to meeting your individual patient’s medical needs.
Sharing all the medical details that matter. It used to be that if you referred someone for an x-ray or other diagnostic test, you’d need to wait for the results to be posted or couriered back to you. With high-speed internet access and software designed to handle the huge amounts of data that medical imaging produces, those waits are becoming a thing of the past.
How the technology helps your patients
- Find out what’s wrong with your patient much more quickly, resulting in faster, more focused treatments.
- Easier to share results with other experts so you can get a specialist consult to ensure you’re recommending the right course of action.
- More confidence from your patient that you have all the details you need to make the right choice for their treatment.
Medical convenience through smartphone apps
It’s not just in person doctor and patient interactions where big changes are happening. There’s a whole host of smartphone apps designed to do everything from reminding a patient to take their meds, to allowing people to remotely consult with a doctor or specialist (telemedicine). These apps are an incredible way to help patients make better decisions and take charge of their health.
How the technology helps your patients
- They can get an update or text message if a doctor is running late.
- The convenience of reminders and updates to help them take care of their health needs.
- Greater access to a wider range of health and medical services.
Stepping into the health portal
Finally, the idea of the patient portal is becoming ever more popular. It’s an online, one stop “body shop” where patients can ask their doctors questions, review test results, book appointments, and get other vital information. It’s the way all practices seem to be going nowadays, and it’s the type of convenience patients love.
How the technology helps your patients
- They can log in and get updates on their diagnostic tests, treatment and medications.
- They can easily look up doctor availability and schedule appointments.
- They can easily ask questions of a doctor.
Of course, with all these technological changes, it’s vital to maintain the human touch. A good bedside manner, a deep understanding of a patient’s needs, and helping them make the best health decisions are vital. A website that shares all your services, gives details on each doctor, and puts your patient’s needs front and center is a great way to show that you care.
Fortunately, with the right technology, that gets even easier.