Practices implementing digital patient engagement software stand to benefit in a variety of ways. The key benefits include:

1. Improved quality of care with fewer readmissions

When patients can access their educational materials digitally, easily, and quickly, they’re more likely to have higher levels of engagement and greater health outcomes. This is especially true when you realize that digital patient engagement software can include educational materials in the form of videos or other interactive media which can make using healthcare technology such as remote patient monitoring devices more user friendly. More adherence to the health plan means fewer readmission trips.

2. Better decision-making

Digital patient engagement enables better teamwork and collaboration not only between physician and patient, but also between physician and office staff since things such as scheduling and patient registration are automated. Additionally, when patients are engaged with the software, there’s more fluid patient-provider collaboration which leads to better and more engaged decision-making.

3. Minimizes patient no shows

When patients are automatically reminded about their appointments from the communication channel they’re most likely to check (e.g., phone, email, text), they’re much less likely to skip their appointments.

4. Reduces gaps in care

With digital patient engagement software, you can automate outreach that is specifically meant to re-engage patients who are behind in scheduling appointments as well as educate patients about new services, texts, or vaccines that might be available to them.

5. Attracts new patients

Patients want to get the most for their money, and having an easy-to-use digital patient engagement suite of software will make them feel like they’re being taken care of since it demonstrates that your practice is up to date with the most relevant technology.

6. Improves patient access

Patients will have greater access to their own health records, as well as education and care plans, which means they’re more likely to be engaged in their own healthcare in a way they wouldn’t otherwise be. They can come to appointments prepared to have conversations about their health instead of just receiving their care plan.

7. Simplifies patient billing

Digital patient engagement software simplifies billing by offering both patients and care providers better access and transparency regarding bills. Using this technology, patients have access to their statements, payment plans, and the ability to pay bills 24/7. Additionally, patients can receive text messages with their balances, a link to a detailed statement that includes all services being charged, and the ability to make automatic payments.

For healthcare organizations, billing becomes easier because patients pay bills more quickly, it reduces the cost of printing and mailing paper bills, and it eliminates the need for hiring outside billing services if you have enough patient use and buy-in.

8. Collecting feedback becomes easier

Because digital patient engagement is tied closely to patient experience, it’s important to collect feedback regularly. Many of these software solutions allow you to send messages to patients automatically, so it’s a great idea to send a patient satisfaction survey within 24 hours of every appointment in order to collect data and patient feedback. This can help you adjust your procedures to ensure you have a high patient satisfaction rate.

9. Generate more online reviews

According to our 2020 Master Patient Experience Survey[*], almost three quarters (71%) of surveyed patients use online reviews as the very first step to finding a new doctor, so your online reputation is often the first impression you make on many potential patients.

Much like the patient satisfaction survey, it might be a good idea to send a link to your preferred review site shortly after every appointment to help generate more reviews.

The different types of digital patient engagement software

A digital patient engagement tool enables a secure, digital patient-provider communication channel that provides access to clinical, financial, and administrative functionality. They can also share important educational information about care plans or instructions about how to use remote patient monitoring devices for patients.

These tools can all be considered types of digital patient engagement software:

  • Patient portal software
  • Patient engagement software
  • All-in-one electronic medical records solutions (also known as electronic health records)
  • Patient scheduling software
  • Remote patient monitoring software