Patient Engagement Blog

Manual, inefficient workflows are a thing of the past in almost every industry, and healthcare is no exception. Automation in healthcare is nothing new: Technological advances have completely changed the game, enabling practices and providers to streamline time-consuming processes and improve their operations.

Although many are already taking advantage of technology to automate manual workflows, some are not quite there yet. The truth is, the degree to which you embrace technology to work more efficiently can make or break your practice, so the sooner you get on board, the better.

Healthcare practices and providers have access to more data today than ever before. Real-time data housed in electronic health records (EHRs) and software with robust reporting capabilities has changed how we approach patient care in numerous ways, from helping identify vulnerable, high-risk individuals, to operating more efficiently and proactively managing the health of populations.

Electronic health records (EHRs) are an integral component in today’s healthcare industry, offering numerous benefits to practices, providers, and patients alike. Even though patients don’t directly interact with the EHR their provider uses, it can still have a profound impact on their care quality, health outcomes, and overall experience with your practice—for better or for worse.

Using an EHR that’s not effectively designed to support patient care can have several potentially negative implications. It’s up to you to ensure your EHR’s impact is positive as opposed to a deterrent to delivering top-quality care. Here’s how EHRs can negatively impact patient care and what your practice can do to take action.

The transition from volume-based to value-based care has been a key area of focus for healthcare leaders in recent years. Providers of all sizes, from small healthcare practices to large health systems, are looking for efficient and effective ways to embrace value-based reimbursement, overcome barriers, and improve their quality of care as a whole.

COVID-19 has rapidly accelerated telehealth adoption, which has proven a highly effective alternative to in-person care throughout the pandemic. However, for many healthcare practices, virtual care services are still a relatively new initiative.

Healthcare has never been more competitive than it is today. The rise of healthcare consumerism has completely changed the game. Modern consumers have higher expectations in terms of the cost, quality, and type of care they receive. They’re also more willing than ever before to switch providers in pursuit of a better care experience when those expectations aren’t being met.

COVID-19 has uprooted many firmly held processes at healthcare practices, initiating a fundamental shift in the way care is delivered. Like so many other areas of our lives, the patient journey looks vastly different amid the health crisis.

The healthcare industry is no stranger to change. From adopting new care-delivery and payment models to embracing modern technology and aligning with consumer expectations, it’s clear that today’s healthcare practices have their hands full. 

These days, nearly every healthcare practice uses some type of portal to engage patients and improve health outcomes. A recent survey revealed that 90 percent of healthcare organizations offer portal access to their patients. However, despite this widespread adoption, the same survey found that less than one-third of patients actively use the portal available to them.

Today’s healthcare consumers have much higher expectations than ever before. They want and demand quality, personalized care experiences—and if they’re not satisfied, they’re certainly not afraid to jump ship.