Updated on November 16, 2022 by Jordan McGlone
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Physicians answering services are not just for phone calls, find out how we are using texting to keep your practice moving at the pace that today’s patients expect. Primary care practices traditionally use phone calls to follow up with patients who have recently been discharged from hospitals. But did you know that auto-messaging can offer a better way to accomplish these goals?
Gone are the days when doctors need to manually check with their patients. Nowadays, modern medical applications have allowed automatic monitoring for patients who have already returned to their homes. This helps doctors to oversee the patient’s health even when they are already at home. There are many ways texts can be more effective than phone calls. In this article, let’s deep dive into each benefit and learn why auto-texting can be more beneficial for both doctors and patients.
Text messages help prevent readmissions.
Studies have shown that while follow-up phone calls can effectively reduce unplanned readmissions, it requires a significant time commitment to do so. Without strict schedule monitoring, doctors often forget to follow up with their patients. Moreover, many patients who get out of the hospital barely have time to answer phone calls. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Forbes, 70% of medical calls to consumers simply go unanswered.
As an alternative, hospitals would have a 30-day post-discharge intervention using automated texting. Patients who need follow-up within this period can receive a text reminding them of their checkups or scheduling them for telemedicine.
Text messaging supports patients’ positive perception of care.
The younger generation uses smartphones to check emails, send and receive text, and even post on social media. Because of this, messaging can be a more effective way to reach out to the younger generation. As a result, you could have an increased positive perception from patients. There is a higher chance that your message is delivered and read by the younger generation. Whereas calls have a high chance of being ignored , text messages can be delivered straight away to the inbox.
Doctors answering services can use text-based format to remind patients of important information such as facility changes, operating hour modifications, and follow-up checkups. Consequently, hospitals will have a greater return on their investment.
Reminder texts enhance patient management.
Manually following up with patients can occupy time and a lot of resources. However, text-based follow-ups can help you save time through pre-made templates and scheduled messaging. It does not only improve medical processes, but it also enhances patient management, which can lead to an increasing percentage of patient retention.
Texting can also be utilized for simple notifications and updates. Instead of trying to reach someone by phone, texting is a subtle and less cumbersome method of sending reminders to patients. The same goes for appointments and other post-confinement reminders.
SMS communication is scalable and convenient for patients.
Imagine trying to answer a phone call while you’re commuting, working, or caring for family. It’s not only inconvenient but the noise around could prevent you from hearing the voice on the other line. The same thing can happen when your patient happens to be in the market, department store, or rush hour.
These are just of the many scenarios that make customer service inquiries via text much more efficient and scalable than a call. Medical call answering requires blocking out time and a person for each interaction. On the other hand, texting will allow for quick message delivery without totally bothering a patient with whatever he or she is doing. Consequently, your patient can read the text during his free time.
Texting alleviates the pressure on patients to reply.
While phone calls are an effective way to engage and communicate with patients, texting is the best avenue for sending notifications that do not need an immediate reply. Automatic text messaging has also been proven to be less bothersome and more convenient. That is because it doesn’t pressure patients to reply. Moreover, it allows patients more time to compose a reply and carefully explain any symptoms they might have felt.
In a recent study, it was shown that texting was far more efficient than calling for patients in post-operative settings and patients with chronic conditions. For a primary practice, using the right channel to send the message through is crucial for highly efficient patient care management. But when it comes to medical follow-ups, texting has proven to be more effective than phone calls. It is also a good way to empower your staff and create a culture of healthy post-hospital practices.
Related article: Best Patient Scheduling Software Options.
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