Clinicians put a lot of effort into patient reminders, but they still don’t know if clients are going to show up even after they’re reminded. That uncertainty points out the advantages of automated patient follow up. There’s no need to set aside blocks of time for patient reminder calls.
Manual follow up and patient reminders consume a significant amount of staff members’ time that could be better spent on dealing with patients in the office and conducting marketing activities. An automated system is more efficient and offers increased access to healthcare for those who really want it.
24 Hour Notice
Twenty-four hours before the patient has an appointment, an automated system sends the patient a text or voice message to confirm or reschedule. In Touch EMR™ provides practitioners with multiple means of contacting clients that allows them to confirm or reschedule appointments automatically with the touch of a button.
Depending upon the client’s choice, they can confirm their appointment on the spot or be transferred automatically to the appropriate staff to reschedule. In Touch EMR™ slashes patient no-shows. It also provides staff with opportunities to fill those empty appointments to maintain patient flow. Messages can be customized according to the clinician’s preferences.
It’s All About The Numbers
Some clinics are experiencing record no-show rates. The Affordable Health Care Act, changes in insurance and higher co-pays has led many clients to delay or suspend their care due to monetary considerations. Any practice that has more than an eight percent cancellation rate definitely needs an automated system to cut down the work and increase the number of patients that actually show up.
Breaking Down Barriers
While many practitioners have made the transition to an EMR, they continue to avoid contacting patients via email, text or voice message. The fear of violating HIPPA regulations is often cited. No confidential information is exchanged during a patient reminder.
Caring Attitudes
Patients want to feel that their clinician cares about them as more than a paycheck. One of the best ways to foster that perception is through automated contact. It takes little time with an automated system, it’s a good marketing strategy and wins patient loyalty.
Leveraging technology to stay in contact with patients has never been more important. It’s essential to gather all forms of contact information from patients, obtain their permission for that type of communication, and their preferences for messaging. Text and voice mails are typically answered within five minutes of their receipt, making them an ideal way to reduce no-shows.
