The healthcare industry has not been immune to challenging business decisions. Simply put, hospital systems and private practices have been severely impacted with fewer patients (i.e. customers) who are unwilling or unable to have elective procedures and office visits. It comes down to the same challenges of “making payroll” like so many businesses across the nation. And yet, there will continue to be market demand for services, and potentially – if not likely – a growing pattern of sub-optimal performance ratings due to a reduced supply of services and trained professionals to serve patients. Replenishing the supply of medical teams and facilities takes time … a lot of time … due to the nature of the business and the required training unlike retail or other turn-key opportunities. Healthcare is facing a dilemma that stretches far beyond the foreseeable future. What does hospitals and physician practices do to “fight” this challenge?
The answer – start talking to patients. A direct outreach to customers is a proven successful plan in any business. And in healthcare, patient communications is THE KEY to address concerns and drive success for all … the patient, the practice, the system … everyone. Here are a few reasons why NOW is the time to start talking to patients.
- Patient well-being – Checking on patients proactively will address any current issues and further solidify their confidence in their caregivers. Think of this as high customer satisfaction.
- Revenue – Hospitals and patients can actually drive revenue that is the lifeblood of their healthcare business. Through innovative telehealth and remote monitoring solutions, healthcare providers should be maximizing revenue opportunities afforded to them under specific billing codes.
- Cost avoidance – Penalties have emerged as a driver for business decisions in the healthcare industry, and those challenges are not going away. A robust patient outreach program has proven to be highly effective in helping hospital systems avoid costly penalties which have a material impact on operating performance.
- Future regulatory requirements – Certainly not a primary driver – at the moment – but changes are coming soon that will impact how hospitals are evaluated with respect to readmissions and overall patient care. Capturing and analyzing additional patient data will soon become a firm requirement that drives both incentives and penalties.
These are just a few real reasons why now is the time to talk to your patients. But given current economic situations, most hospitals and practices are now equipped to start or even contemplate a proactive patient communications program. That’s where PREMEDEX can help. Our team of clinical and non-clinical professionals connect with thousands of patients every day to identify immediate needs while also monitoring overall patient well-being. Equally important, PREMEDEX works every day to ensure alignment with the business needs of healthcare clients to maximize opportunities for growing revenue and improving patient satisfaction.
We understand these challenges and are ready to help you move forward. It starts with talking to your patients. Contact PREMEDEX today to learn how our solutions should be part of your path forward.