Patient Engagement Blog

Patient portals have become a staple of the modern healthcare experience. The benefits speak for themselves: Patient portals lead to better efficiency, engagement, satisfaction, and health outcomes.

These days, telehealth is all the rage. Before COVID-19, both patients and providers were hesitant to embrace virtual care services. Now that the global health crisis has accelerated telehealth’s growth, healthcare IT experts believe it’s here to stay. In fact, the telehealth market in the U.S. is expected to surpass $25 billion within the next five years. 

As it turns out, there can be too much of a good thing. Technology has transformed the healthcare industry, allowing providers to reduce treatment costs, work more efficiently, and improve patient outcomes. However, the rapid acceleration of the healthcare tech industry has resulted in a number of different tools that providers need access to keep up in the modern age.

Complex physician practice workflows are not only stressful for medical staff, but also have a negative impact on patient outcomes and satisfaction. Healthcare organizations need access to digital tools to simplify workflows and improve organizational efficiency—but some solutions are more effective than others, and choosing the right tools for your practice can be daunting.

Consumers today crave convenience—we can buy our favorite products with a single click, get groceries delivered straight to our doorstep, and access any information at the drop of a hat.

COVID-19 has caused a massive explosion in the adoption of telehealth across healthcare systems of all sizes and specialties. The U.S. telehealth market is expected to reach around $10 billion in 2020 with an 80 percent year-over-year growth due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s more, the telehealth market is predicted to exceed $175 billion in just six years by 2026.

A strategy for engaging patients is no longer a “nice-to-have” offering for your practice—it’s a necessity. Studies have repeatedly shown that strong patient engagement results in better outcomes, decreased costs, and improved quality of life overall. 

The healthcare industry is evolving rapidly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In particular, the healthcare information technology (IT) industry is experiencing significant changes. From the instant rise of telehealth to advancements in artificial intelligence, modern technology is transforming healthcare as we know it. Digital solutions are enabling providers to offer quality patient care from a distance and providing much-needed relief during this time.

The world as we’ve known it has changed dramatically over the last few months. COVID-19 has transformed the way we work, interact, shop, and even how we access healthcare. Though it’s difficult to predict anything with certainty, some trends are likely to continue throughout the rest of 2020 and beyond.

Each year, an increasing number of healthcare providers recognize the benefits that come with patient portal adoption. A recent survey found that 72 percent of patients had access to a patient portal, up 64 percent from just a few years ago in 2016—and that momentum isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon.