\n\n\n\n
Week 2: Offer free Wi-Fi in the waiting room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Boredom is the enemy of satisfaction. Keep your patients busy, and you\u2019ll keep them happy\u2014or at least make them forget that they\u2019re at the doctor\u2019s office. So, this one should be a given\u2500offer free Wi-Fi. Most of your patients will come in with smartphones, and if they\u2019re parents, their kids are likely to be smartphone-savvy\u2014and nothing cures boredom like Angry Birds. Be sure that your password is easy to type, large-print, and available in multiple locations in the waiting room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Level up: Offer tethered iPads next to a supply of antibacterial screen wipes.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 3: Show that you love your neighborhood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hang a community bulletin board open to public flyers. Keep an active social media page where you share anecdotes and articles. Plan an open house with food and entertainment. The more your patients know you\u2019re engaged, the more they\u2019ll want to engage with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Sponsor a youth sports team or rent a booth at your town\u2019s street fair so you can see your patients in the off hours.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/eadn-wc04-11971913.nxedge.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/a-mural-of-pittsburgh-neighborhoods-in-kidsplus-pediatrics-a-multi-location-practice-1024x536.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA mural of Pittsburgh neighborhoods in KidsPlus Pediatrics, a multi-location practice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nWeek 4: Tell patients their wait times in the waiting room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We know that patient satisfaction is directly linked to wait-times<\/a>. Done well, this takes some time (and maybe new software) to implement, but it could be as easy as taking a cue from your favorite restaurant: when patients sign in, welcome them with a smile and say, \u201cThe current wait is about 5 minutes.\u201d Theoretically, you know how many patients and physicians are in-house, so your staff should have a pretty good idea of how long any particular patient might be waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOf course, if you really<\/em> want to do it right, implement software that includes waiting room kiosks and boards. After checking in, patients are assigned a confidential number, and they can view their progress on a digital screen. Well-informed people are willing to wait longer, so a little bit of communication goes a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Provide your patients with remote check-in so they can view the wait before they arrive at your office.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 5: Allow them to fill in electronic forms once (unless their info has changed)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
While some forms are good to update at each visit\u2014for instance, mental health questionnaires\u2014insurance information or emergency contacts should only be required when they change. Keep your patients\u2019 information in a database so you can send it to them before the appointment to confirm that they don\u2019t<\/em> need to fill out a new form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Automate the forms so they get submitted to your staff upon completion.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/eadn-wc04-11971913.nxedge.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/access-to-health-information-at-home-csw-blog-1024x536.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n2\/3 of tech-savvy seniors want access to health information from home. <\/em>Source<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 6: Text appointment reminders to patients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ve spent hours on the phone, reminding patients of their upcoming appointments, chasing voicemails and answering machines in an effort to reduce no-shows. Sending emails can save time, but elicit uneven results\u2500email might end up in a junk folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Text messaging engagement rates are 6 to 8 times higher<\/a> than email engagement. They\u2019re easy, fast, effective, and automated, if you have the right software<\/a>. They can be scheduled at intervals, and you can configure them, include links to forms or resources, and even integrate newsletters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Get two-way texting so your patients can confirm their appointments through text.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 7: Allow patients to schedule their own appointments online<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pick any random person staring at a smartphone, and it\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ve ordered something online in the last week. Maybe they\u2019re streaming movies on Netflix, ordering cars on Uber or Lyft, or downloading the latest podcast\u2500whatever it is, it\u2019s easy, fast, and online. If I can reserve a table at a restaurant, why can\u2019t I make my doctor\u2019s appointments online<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\nWith a robust patient self-scheduling software that enables patients to find and schedule an appointment in a few clicks, you can decrease your front office manual labor and<\/em> attract a new generation of patients who expect a fast, painless, digital experience every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: if you have multiple locations, include a geo-locator so patients can find the doctor closest to their location.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 8: Manage patient flow in your office better<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
From the moment a patient walks in your door, they\u2019re depending on you for a seamless, pleasant experience. Visits to the doctor are rarely enjoyable, per se, so any places where you can reduce friction will be sure to improve their experience. In addition, your staff also<\/em> wants a seamless experience\u2500lost folders, frustrated patients, delayed doctors all contribute to their stress, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWith better patient flow, your staff will know how many patients are waiting, and for how long. They\u2019ll know who\u2019s in which room and whose vitals haven\u2019t been taken yet. Patients will know when they\u2019ll be called to an exam room, and when they get there, they won\u2019t have to wait too long. Good patient flow adds predictability, reduces friction, and ultimately gives your staff more time to care for patients.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/eadn-wc04-11971913.nxedge.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/good-patient-flow-gives-your-staff-more-time-to-care-for-patients-1024x536.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nGood patient flow gives your staff more time to care for patients.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do we achieve better flow? Invest in an application designed to manage patient flow. Staff can glance at a shared dashboard and immediately see who\u2019s been waiting, for how long, and where. They\u2019ll spend less time managing appointments and more time caring for patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Find an application that includes flags so your staff knows if a patient has special needs, like a wheelchair.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 9: Learn from the data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At the end of two months, you should have a strategy in place that allows your staff to recognize and improve key performance indicators. What are your no-show rates? Left Without Being Seen (LWBS)? Average wait time? Once you know these, you can improve them\u2014and when they\u2019re really great, even share your short wait times on your website and social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tracking key performance indicators [KPIs] isn\u2019t always easy. Without an application that manages your operations, this kind of information might be largely anecdotal, and basic scheduling apps rarely provide real-time analytics. As the healthcare industry becomes more and more dependent on metrics, getting hard numbers and showing quantifiable improvement could do more than just improve your patients\u2019 experiences\u2014it could also bring more revenue into your practice through higher reimbursements and increased retention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Implement an application that includes dashboards so you can see day-to-day improvements in KPIs.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nImprove patient satisfaction every day, starting now.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If this timeline seems ambitious, remember that with the right application, you\u2019ll be able to do all this and more. In less than a single quarter, you could completely reboot your practice\u2019s patient engagement and<\/em> workflow. With applications like TeleTracking\u2019s cloud-based Community Scheduling & Workflow<\/a>, you can text reminders, provide waiting room boards, electronic forms, and<\/em> support self-scheduling and improved patient flow with real-time analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\nToday is the day to begin improving your patient satisfaction. Happier patients mean happier staff; happier staff means more happy patients. They\u2019ll spread the word about your practice, and by next quarter, you could see a substantial bump in new patients, returning patients, and patient satisfaction overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA mural of Pittsburgh neighborhoods in KidsPlus Pediatrics, a multi-location practice.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We know that patient satisfaction is directly linked to wait-times<\/a>. Done well, this takes some time (and maybe new software) to implement, but it could be as easy as taking a cue from your favorite restaurant: when patients sign in, welcome them with a smile and say, \u201cThe current wait is about 5 minutes.\u201d Theoretically, you know how many patients and physicians are in-house, so your staff should have a pretty good idea of how long any particular patient might be waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, if you really<\/em> want to do it right, implement software that includes waiting room kiosks and boards. After checking in, patients are assigned a confidential number, and they can view their progress on a digital screen. Well-informed people are willing to wait longer, so a little bit of communication goes a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While some forms are good to update at each visit\u2014for instance, mental health questionnaires\u2014insurance information or emergency contacts should only be required when they change. Keep your patients\u2019 information in a database so you can send it to them before the appointment to confirm that they don\u2019t<\/em> need to fill out a new form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2\/3 of tech-savvy seniors want access to health information from home. <\/em>Source<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve spent hours on the phone, reminding patients of their upcoming appointments, chasing voicemails and answering machines in an effort to reduce no-shows. Sending emails can save time, but elicit uneven results\u2500email might end up in a junk folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Text messaging engagement rates are 6 to 8 times higher<\/a> than email engagement. They\u2019re easy, fast, effective, and automated, if you have the right software<\/a>. They can be scheduled at intervals, and you can configure them, include links to forms or resources, and even integrate newsletters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pick any random person staring at a smartphone, and it\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ve ordered something online in the last week. Maybe they\u2019re streaming movies on Netflix, ordering cars on Uber or Lyft, or downloading the latest podcast\u2500whatever it is, it\u2019s easy, fast, and online. If I can reserve a table at a restaurant, why can\u2019t I make my doctor\u2019s appointments online<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a robust patient self-scheduling software that enables patients to find and schedule an appointment in a few clicks, you can decrease your front office manual labor and<\/em> attract a new generation of patients who expect a fast, painless, digital experience every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the moment a patient walks in your door, they\u2019re depending on you for a seamless, pleasant experience. Visits to the doctor are rarely enjoyable, per se, so any places where you can reduce friction will be sure to improve their experience. In addition, your staff also<\/em> wants a seamless experience\u2500lost folders, frustrated patients, delayed doctors all contribute to their stress, as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With better patient flow, your staff will know how many patients are waiting, and for how long. They\u2019ll know who\u2019s in which room and whose vitals haven\u2019t been taken yet. Patients will know when they\u2019ll be called to an exam room, and when they get there, they won\u2019t have to wait too long. Good patient flow adds predictability, reduces friction, and ultimately gives your staff more time to care for patients.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Good patient flow gives your staff more time to care for patients.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n How do we achieve better flow? Invest in an application designed to manage patient flow. Staff can glance at a shared dashboard and immediately see who\u2019s been waiting, for how long, and where. They\u2019ll spend less time managing appointments and more time caring for patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of two months, you should have a strategy in place that allows your staff to recognize and improve key performance indicators. What are your no-show rates? Left Without Being Seen (LWBS)? Average wait time? Once you know these, you can improve them\u2014and when they\u2019re really great, even share your short wait times on your website and social media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tracking key performance indicators [KPIs] isn\u2019t always easy. Without an application that manages your operations, this kind of information might be largely anecdotal, and basic scheduling apps rarely provide real-time analytics. As the healthcare industry becomes more and more dependent on metrics, getting hard numbers and showing quantifiable improvement could do more than just improve your patients\u2019 experiences\u2014it could also bring more revenue into your practice through higher reimbursements and increased retention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If this timeline seems ambitious, remember that with the right application, you\u2019ll be able to do all this and more. In less than a single quarter, you could completely reboot your practice\u2019s patient engagement and<\/em> workflow. With applications like TeleTracking\u2019s cloud-based Community Scheduling & Workflow<\/a>, you can text reminders, provide waiting room boards, electronic forms, and<\/em> support self-scheduling and improved patient flow with real-time analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today is the day to begin improving your patient satisfaction. Happier patients mean happier staff; happier staff means more happy patients. They\u2019ll spread the word about your practice, and by next quarter, you could see a substantial bump in new patients, returning patients, and patient satisfaction overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWeek 4: Tell patients their wait times in the waiting room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Provide your patients with remote check-in so they can view the wait before they arrive at your office.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 5: Allow them to fill in electronic forms once (unless their info has changed)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Automate the forms so they get submitted to your staff upon completion.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 6: Text appointment reminders to patients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Get two-way texting so your patients can confirm their appointments through text.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 7: Allow patients to schedule their own appointments online<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: if you have multiple locations, include a geo-locator so patients can find the doctor closest to their location.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 8: Manage patient flow in your office better<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Find an application that includes flags so your staff knows if a patient has special needs, like a wheelchair.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWeek 9: Learn from the data<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLevel up: Implement an application that includes dashboards so you can see day-to-day improvements in KPIs.<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nImprove patient satisfaction every day, starting now.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n