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Better patient relationships are possible with smart, integrated technologies. Translate a higher satisfaction level to referrals and higher reimbursements.
When patients feel heard and that their concerns have a voice, they tell others. For a healthcare provider, that translates to community referrals and higher reimbursement levels. Providers can support patient loyalty with the use of smart technology and ensure patients are fully informed about their treatment and discharge. Patient safety and quality improves with the use of integrated technologies, and Care Teams experience better communication with patients and their team leaders throughout the care journey. That leads to better patient relationships.
The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), discusses the use of health technologies in its report, Health Communication and Health Information Technology. The report states, “Disparities in access to health information, services, and technology can result in lower usage rates of preventive services, less knowledge of chronic disease management, higher rates of hospitalization, and poorer reported health status.”
Interactive technologies can transform the quality of patient care and the patient-clinician relationship.
In discussing the advantages of better access to health technology and patient relationships, the ODPHP cites a number of strategies providers can use to foster better patient relationships in league with patients. The strategies include:
- Shared decision making
- Self service or self-management tools and resources
- Social support and connection
- Fast availability of detailed information about their care
- Health literacy about their condition
- Education that supports healthy behaviors
- Interactive whiteboards and touch enabled tablets play an important role in supporting these strategies.
The ODPHP states, “Such systems will be critical to expanding the collection of data to better understand the effects of health communication and health IT on population health outcomes, health care quality, and health disparities. Continual feedback, productive interactions, and access to evidence on the effectiveness of treatments and interventions will likely transform the traditional patient-provider relationship. It will also change the way people receive, process, and evaluate health information.” Better informed patients = a better patient relationship.
Interactive technology in healthcare settings has substantial benefits for Care Teams, too:
- Consolidation of patient data for better consults, communication and collaboration with their peers by fostering teamwork and reducing data silos.
- Speeds rounds so patients receive relevant information sooner.
- Less time spent on non clinical tasks (and more time for patient care).
- Eliminates or reduces the amount of paperwork required for patient data recording and reporting, like searching for test results, tracking down medication instructions and confirming Nurse notes with a physician.
- Reduced medication errors and elimination of missed, illegible or erased dry erase notes about patient medications and dosages.
- Faster response time for patient alerts, falls and reduced readmissions.
- Digital education content that can be assigned based on diagnosis codes encourages better education compliance for a more informed patient.
- Gives the Care Team the opportunity for proactive care rather than reactive care to reduce burnout and stress.
Digital whiteboards support patient and clinical goals for collaboration and lasting outcomes
Smart whiteboards, tablets and apps that are easy for patients to understand and use are important tools providers can use for better staff and patient communication, lasting recovery, medication adherence and a deeper, more meaningful patient relationship. By integrating digital whiteboards and other smart technologies in their facility, Care Teams can spend more meaningful time with patients. Administrators and CNOs can reduce wasteful printing and spending on dry erase boards. CIOs can reduce labor costs, time and effort with network integration and remote software management.
Digital whiteboards, tablets and apps that work across hospital systems and integrate with any network give healthcare providers tools to simplify and extend care.
Learn how to use smart technologies to enhance your patient relationships.