How Can The Healthcare Industry Use Text Messages?
In the light of the pandemic, many industries found a need for digital transformation to keep operating smoothly. The industry that was challenged the most, but also innovated the most was, unsurprisingly, the healthcare industry.
Pre-pandemic, the administrative tasks like scheduling and reminders, prescriptions, and follow-ups, not to mention all the internal resources that go into shift scheduling, we're often operating on technology that’s decades older. And while this is still the case in many places, things started to change.
The need to keep the distance but maintain timely communication with the patients resulted in the rise of usage of digital communication methods and text messages were the most prominent one. Quick, affordable, and easy-to-use, SMS has become essential for the day-to-day operations of many hospitals and medical professionals. But how exactly can you use it for your healthcare business? We’ve done some research and found some of the most popular uses of SMS to streamline the communication efforts of the healthcare industry.
Text Messages As Part of Patient Care
Let’s start off by taking a look at how you can use SMS to connect and establish trusting relations with the patients as all the staff and administrative works taking place are ultimately about delivering good service to the patients. Text messages can be used in many ways to benefit the patients. Let’s take a look at some of them.
1. Use SMS to send appointment reminders to patients
Did you know that missed appointments cost the healthcare industry $150 Billion a year? Mind-blowing number, isn’t it? And this is only the financial loss, but think of also the time that both patients and medical staff lose!
Because of high open rates (with 98% of smartphone owners opening their text messages,) SMS makes a perfect tool to avoid missed appointments. Timely sent reminders will help reduce or altogether avoid no-shows. Automatically setting up and delivering reminders will also help to decrease the burden on administrative staff who can spend the time actually helping people, as well as result in a drastic decrease in phone bills.
2. Utilize SMS during the aftercare and follow-up
The appointment is far from being the only situation when you need to contact the patients. Moreover, it may be only the first step. After that, aftercare and follow-ups come, which are even more important.
SMS can assist you here as well, making it simple and accessible to stay in touch with numerous patients at the same time, following their treatment step by step. Make sure they are following the prescribed steps and taking the meds. Another benefit SMS has here over phone calls is that it allows all the parties to communicate at times that are convenient for them, while the synchronous nature of phone calls may not be comfortable for everyone.
3. Send out prescription instructions and reminders
The importance of taking the prescribed medicine in a timely manner and correctly cannot be overestimated. Taking prescribed pills at the wrong time or incorrect order can have dangerous side effects and heart the treatment process. Sending short text messages as reminders on which medication to take at what time, as well as refill reminders can help the patient to avoid this pitfall while saving time and resources for the doctor of your healthcare establishment.
4. Receive feedback from patients about the treatment process
One of the most important features of any communication method is that it is both-sided. Text messages allow patients to connect with the doctor in real-time or whenever is convenient for them to address the treatment or any concern they may have. Offering patients several options to choose from when it comes to communication will further enhance the patient experience, frees up time, and help to avoid any confusion later on.
Benefits of Text Messages For Healthcare Professionals
Patient care is not the only way the healthcare industry can use SMS. Staff communication and administration of the hospitals and clinics can also benefit greatly from switching to text messages. Here are some of the main benefits text messages have that healthcare professionals can benefit from.
1. Staying on top of important updates
Coming back to administration, reducing the call time while making sure the staff is aware of their shifts, any ongoing changes, or important updates is essential. Sending out personalized, or even bulk text messages about the information staff must know instead of calling can save hours of time and hassle, and make sure everything operates smoothly.
2. Improved efficiency
The first point leads us directly to efficiency. The administrative and medical staff can channel the saved time to working with more patients or invest in the aftercare process while still keeping the communication flowing smoothly. Additionally, digitally sent and stored messages and information is a better way to track the treatment and overall information than paper documents. They also allow patients as well to have communication with their doctors at hand at all times, in case they forget something.
3. Better customer service
The quick and effective communication channel SMS provides helps to provide considerably better customer service. From appointment reminders to more efficient follow-up, and even reduced waiting time for diagnostic centers, SMS allows better customer services. The saved resources, both time and financial, can be used to work with more patients. This will help you build more meaningful relationships with your patients. They can then feel safer to open up about the health issues they are experiencing or even any problems or considerations they may have, thus improving the treatment process.
4. Convenience and security
Affordability and ease of adoption make text messaging an extremely convenient communication method, whether it’s for texts sent to single patients or bulk SMS. On top of that, text messaging has also proven to be a safe and secure communication channel with low chances of getting lost on the way or appearing in the wrong hands.
Summing up
One thing that healthcare professionals need to remember is that healthcare is a service, and the quality of that service decides on where you stand. And the communication strategy professionals or establishments choose is the first experience patients will get. These tips on how you can improve your connection with the patients were only a few ways that the healthcare industry can benefit from using SMS. Creating an experience for your patients that is empathetic, convenient, and accessible will not only benefit your operations, but help people by creating an in-the-moment access to you.
