With rising patient expectations, healthcare providers are finding less brand loyalty among consumers. This means that patients who were once loyal to one healthcare provider or organization will switch to another to get the treatment they desire. To the point that more than a third of patients have switched healthcare providers in the previous two years, with poor accessibility being a major factor in their decision.
To better serve your patients, your office should offer convenient online scheduling through your website and social media pages. This simple digital option has the potential to immediately improve the lives of patients. Here are some of the benefits that you and your company can anticipate from adopting a digital appointment booking system.
They prefer medical centers that allow them to make appointments online.
With patient convenience being of utmost importance, online scheduling click and collect software for retail can be a competitive advantage in attracting new patients and expanding a practice over the long run. According to surveys of patients, insurance is not the only factor in deciding where they go for medical care; convenience is also a major one. As the first point of contact for many patients, it’s crucial to present a streamlined, efficient booking procedure that leaves a positive impression.
Schedules can be made at the convenience of the patient.
As healthcare becomes increasingly consumer-driven, the concept of “office hours” as we know it has become obsolete. Chatbots and constant availability of human customer service representatives are now commonplace in most businesses. As a matter of fact, nearly one in five patients report that waiting for a practice to open is the most annoying part of scheduling.
Appointment gaps can be filled more easily with the use of online patient scheduling.
Patients in need of an immediate appointment will appreciate the convenience of online scheduling, which allows them to view your most up-to-date appointment availability in real time. This allows them to select open appointment times that could have been missed due to no-shows or cancellations.
Online scheduling relieves employees of time-consuming administrative duties.
Without online booking, receptionists at medical centers can’t possibly keep up with patient demand. It’s a lot of effort to schedule appointments, answer patients’ questions over the phone, and tend to their needs during their visits. When online scheduling tools can accommodate customers’ preferences for convenience and save up front desk staff time, many practices still use inefficient methods such as spending hours each week booking patients manually.
With the use of online appointment scheduling, medical professionals can provide a higher quality of care to their patients. With online scheduling, patients are already on their way to a happy experience before they even see a doctor.
