Building trust and strong relationships with patients is foundational for providers to ensure patients feel comfortable sharing health concerns or issues with them.
However, outside of an annual check-in or when they’re already sick, patients typically don’t have much interaction with their provider or practice which can make it difficult to foster any type of relationship.
Providing patient-centric messages doesn’t have to be very long and thorough messages, but they should involve some personalization to indicate that it was meant for them.
For example, if during a recent visit, a patient with diabetes had higher-than-normal blood glucose, sending a check-in text asking them if their levels are normal can be a good way to spot potential issues before they worsen.
In this blog, we highlight challenges that can arise from not having patient-centric communication and the benefits when implementing it.
1. Personalized Care: Each person is different, and the one-size-fits-all approach no longer works in healthcare.
2. Reactive vs. Proactive Visits: Most patients aren't in the office unless there's already an issue or just for a regular check-up, which can lead to missed opportunities for early intervention.
3. Limited Time and Memory: Patients often forget what to ask or feel like they don't have enough time during their short appointment, leading to unaddressed concerns.
4. Lack of Understanding: Patients don't feel like their doctor understands their unique concerns, potentially causing frustration and dissatisfaction.
5. Unheard Concerns: Patients often feel like they're not being heard, which can erode trust and confidence in their healthcare providers.
1. Regular Check-Ins: Implementing regular check-ins helps healthcare practices have a pulse on what's happening with patients, facilitating early detection and intervention.
2. Information and Context: Regular communication gives patients an opportunity to share additional information and context about their health, leading to more accurate diagnosis and treatment.
3. Building Relationships: Patient-centric communication helps patients better know their healthcare provider and practice, fostering a sense of trust and collaboration.
4. Early Detection: By maintaining open channels of communication, healthcare providers can flag any irregularities and health concerns before they escalate, leading to better health outcomes.
5. Enhanced Patient Satisfaction: When patients feel heard and understood, they are more satisfied with their care, leading to stronger patient-provider relationships and better overall healthcare experiences.
Using Tellescope’s HIPAA-compliant platform, digital health, and in-person practices are able to engage patients through their preferred channel and automatically send personalized check-ins to each patient so nothing slips through the cracks.
If you’re interested in learning how Tellescope can help your business, fill out the form below.
Originally published: October 25, 2023
Last updated: October 25, 2023