One clear change in recent years is that patients want more digital healthcare services similar to what they use daily. A survey by Nuance Communications says 68% of patients like when healthcare providers offer customized experiences. This means patients expect healthcare to be more personal instead of the same for everyone.
Convenience is also very important to patients. They like telemedicine, digital forms, mobile health apps, and touchless check-in. The Nuance report shows 44% of patients prefer telemedicine, 41% like digital forms and messages, and 37% favor touchless check-in. These numbers show patients want quick and easy digital access to healthcare.
Bad digital experiences make patients switch doctors. In 2020, about 25% of patients changed providers because they were unhappy with digital services. This was 40% higher than in 2019. Because of this, healthcare providers need to improve their digital “front door,” which means the first way patients contact them online or digitally. They need smooth and fast digital options.
The phrase “consumerization of healthcare” means patients now behave more like customers. They want control over their healthcare choices, clear prices, and easy-to-use tools.
Reports from McKinsey and Forbes show digital tools like virtual visits and health apps are now a big part of healthcare. Many patients choose virtual visits to get care from home quickly. Devices like smartwatches help people track their fitness, sleep, and heart rate so they can manage their health better.
Patients want to understand the results of their care and how much it costs. Providers who show clear pricing and results gain more patient trust. This means healthcare leaders need to create easy-to-use patient portals and safe ways for patients to communicate and check their health information.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a bigger role in how healthcare talks to patients and manages work. Companies like Nuance Communications use AI virtual helpers that work on phones, websites, apps, messaging services, and even smart speakers.
The good side of AI is it makes patient experience better and helps healthcare offices work faster. Nuance says their AI cut agent call times by 42% and improved customer happiness by over 50%. Linking AI with systems like Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) helps give patients more personal messages based on their data.
AI phone systems can reduce stress for front-office staff by handling simple questions about scheduling, test results, or refills fast. This lets staff focus on harder tasks that need a person. AI can work all day and night, helping healthcare meet patient needs for quick answers.
Besides patient calls, AI can automate jobs like patient registration, checking insurance, and reminding patients about appointments. This lowers costs and helps clinics make more money.
Digital health is no longer just online visits or patient portals. More complex digital treatments and remote patient monitoring are now part of care, especially for long-term and mental health conditions. Data from IQVIA shows there are over 337,000 digital health apps and more than 360 software therapies available. About 140 digital therapies need prescriptions and can be used at home.
Digital therapeutics give software-based treatments for problems like behavior health, sleep, and pelvic health. They can help patients in between doctor visits. This lets care reach more people in more ways.
Remote patient monitoring uses sensors and wearables to track health signs like heart rate and medication use. These digital biomarkers help doctors watch health progress and catch issues early. Some monitoring tools are even approved as medical devices.
Clinics using remote monitoring can give care before big problems happen, lower hospital visits, and support value-based care. It also helps patients who cannot visit clinics often get better care.
Many digital health apps help patients with wellness, self-care, taking medicine, and health risk checks. More people in the U.S. use these apps as smartphones are common and patients want tech to help manage their health.
Apps are getting smarter with AI and machine learning. They help doctors find diseases early, check treatment effects, and give patients clear feedback. This helps patients manage their health better.
Medical offices should think about adding good health apps to their services or guide patients to trusted ones. This can make patients happier and improve health results.
Even though digital health has many benefits, it also has problems. Buying technology, training staff, and keeping data safe are big issues. Healthcare IT workers need to work closely with doctors and office staff to use systems that fit their work and follow rules.
The move to patient-focused care needs changes in how clinics work. Some people may resist new tech, like AI and remote monitoring. Providers must handle this carefully.
Providers also need to make sure all patients have access to digital health. Not everyone is good with technology or can afford it. Using Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) data can help clinics support patients who face extra challenges.
Patients in the U.S. want healthcare that is digital, personal, and easy to use. Reports show that over two-thirds want personalized care, nearly half use telemedicine, and many use digital forms and touchless services. If clinics don’t meet these needs, patients may switch doctors, which can hurt the practice.
AI and automation can help meet these needs well. Automating front-office jobs and combining patient communication channels can improve office work and make patients happier.
The rise of digital treatments and remote monitoring helps provide care beyond the clinic. Health apps also help patients stay engaged and manage their health on their own.
Still, clinics must deal with tech challenges, keep data safe, keep a human touch, and make sure all patients get equal care to get good results.
In 2024 and beyond, clinics will focus on AI to improve patient communication and automate routine tasks. AI phone systems and virtual helpers like those from Nuance handle many patient calls, bookings, and questions automatically.
Connecting AI with EHR, CRM, and phone systems lets helpers access patient info instantly. This allows them to give personal answers and reduce call wait times or transfers. It also makes scheduling and registering easier for patients.
Automation cuts down repetitive work for staff, freeing time for patient care. Clinics using these tools report cutting agent call times by 42% and improving patient satisfaction by over 50%. This helps clinics run smoother, cost less, and keep patients longer.
AI can also be available all day and night, which is important for patients wanting care outside office hours. This helps with urgent questions and booking, making patients happier and more involved.
Healthcare in the U.S. is changing because patients want digital services that are easy to use, personal, and clear. As patients expect more, healthcare leaders must add digital tools, AI automation, and patient communication platforms into their work.
Knowing patient preferences and trends lets healthcare organizations design better services that improve satisfaction, cut costs, and lead to better health. With digital front-door tools, remote monitoring, and AI automation, clinics can meet the needs of patients who use digital technology more and more in a competitive healthcare world.
The platform aims to transform the patient experience across various communication channels, providing a unified solution for healthcare organizations to manage patient engagement effectively.
It enables seamless, consistent interactions via voice, web, mobile, and IoT devices, addressing modern patient demands for convenience and personalized care.
The platform integrates capabilities from electronic health records (EHR), customer relationship management (CRM), and Patient Access Center systems for improved engagement.
Consumers increasingly expect conveniences similar to those provided by major brands, including telemedicine, digital communications, and personalized experiences.
68% of patients value customized experiences, and 25% switched providers due to poor digital health experiences in 2020.
Unlike siloed solutions, it provides a single unified virtual assistant to handle patient engagement across all channels, reducing operational complexity.
By increasing automation rates and lowering costs, it enables healthcare organizations to provide higher-quality patient support and experience.
It offers prepackaged applications for pain points in patient access and virtual care, customization options, and a DIY development tool for advanced users.
Organizations have reported a 42% reduction in agent handling time and over 50% improvement in customer satisfaction metrics.
The platform operates on Microsoft Azure, ensuring high reliability, security, and performance for healthcare organizations.
Simbo is using AI agents to automate all phone related workflows. Connect now to know more.
Schedule AI Agents Demo Now© Since 2019, Simbo AI.
