From a high-level perspective, patient needs are as simple as no-fuss communication options, and as continuous as an automated, pre-built message that inspires an action from them. From a business perspective, it’s imperative that these communication efforts streamline your team’s responsibilities, making their jobs easier. Here are the best communication tools – for both your patients and your team – and how to optimize them.
1. Utilize two-way communication to enhance front-office outcomes
Having a quick, productive conversation with a patient is a coveted front office outcome, and the best way to achieve this is with text messaging software. Smart text message tools can optimize how you manage important digital conversations, and give your team the speed of responding in 2 clicks. Here’s how:
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Use pre-built text templates, and create some of your own
Every business has FAQs, so creating template responses to popular patient questions will save your staff time when communicating with patients. Additionally, most powerful communication tools come with pre-built messages to get you started as you onboard a new technology and update your team’s process.
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Incorporate message flagging into your process
The fact is not every message can be responded to with a template response, and your team should be prepared for that as well. For patient texts that require research or inquiring with the doctor, train your team to flag the message as important so everyone knows it’s in process. It will also be easier to find once one of your front desk employees is ready to respond.
2. Add definitive reminders to your patient journey to enhance clinical outcomes
Nearly all businesses that use communication technology reported the software reduces no-show rates when sending appointment reminders. And with additional reminders that are sent during distinct moments in the patient journey, you can continue to strengthen your appointment process for internal success. Here’s how:
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Early Arrival Notice
Depending on the patient and the nature of their appointment, you may need them to come in earlier than their appointment time. This type of patient alert helps them prepare for their appointment better. For visits that commonly require an early arrival, you can program the alert to ask the patient to come in a certain amount of minutes before their appointment.
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Multiple-Procedure Appointments
Some patients come to visit for several different reasons, but only need to come back to continue treatment for 1 or 2 medical reasons. With this type of patient need, you can prioritize which appointment type they should be reminded about, sending out automated Multiple-Procedure Appointments.
3. Use pre-built custom content to enhance financial outcomes
Email marketing has become increasingly popular post-pandemic. For many industries, the channel has boosted revenue and audience engagement. On the flip side, because send frequencies for unique emails are high, use of the channel also requires an additional employee. For small teams that can’t afford to grow, you’ll make a greater financial impact by utilizing pre-built templates, automations, and evergreen concepts. Here’s how:
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Online Review Requests
Growing your online reputation is imperative to bringing in new patients. There are digital communication tools that offer pre-built templates to jumpstart your email. Then you can choose audience criteria to target only patients who completed their first appointment, sending them a simple email with a clear call-to-action: leave us a review.
As you work to enhance your administrative, financial, and clinical outcomes with technology, be sure to focus on the goal of working smarter, not harder. This way your team will be inspired to implement the new tools into your practice’s daily processes.
About Demandforce
Demandforce helps practices automate front-office tasks and streamline patient communications with an all-in-one solution. From automated appointment reminders to robust reputation management, only Demandforce uniquely combines all the features and functionality a practice needs to grow, in one place.
