Most patients tend to embrace new technology. Technology helps the practice and improves the patients’ overall experience with the clinic.

Nitin Chhoda discusses the benefits of technology to automate and simplify patient follow up. This reduces the burden on the front desk staff and allows them to focus their efforts elsewhere, so they can do more to help market the practice.

healthcareThe 21st century client is an individual that seeks instant gratification in everything from the food they eat to the videos they view, and that holds true for patients and their healthcare needs.

Clients want treatments from healthcare practice management to begin almost immediately, they appreciate convenience and they don’t like to wait.

Therapists can significantly improve the patient experience with technology and an EMR is the ticket to achieving that goal.

Physical therapy EMR

The patient portal contained in a physical therapy EMR is the primary way clients will interact and communicate with their therapist for many of their needs. The patient experience begins when they contact the clinic for an appointment, which can be scheduled online with an integrated EMR.

Healthcare histories and an array of pre-visit forms can be offered online that patients can complete, save and update as needed. There’s no need for clients to worry about printing out paperwork to bring with them to the office.

Forms are password protected and accessible any time for patient convenience. Clients can view their test results via their own account and request medication refills.

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Information Beforehand

Collecting healthcare information beforehand provides clinicians with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the patient’s history prior to their visit, eliminating long and tedious waits in the office.

Some healthcare providers routinely keep patients waiting for an hour or more past the time of their scheduled appointment.

Nothing motivates clients to change healthcare providers quicker than long waits at the office. Clinics can glean a variety of information through patient portals. The most important of those is insurance information that allows practice owners to determine the client’s insurance coverage and co-pays.

Problems can be identified and clarified prior to the office visit, allowing treatment to begin without delay. People in pain want relief and a client’s insurance coverage can significantly impact their course of treatment. A variety of payment options can also be offered online.

Integrated EMR

The modern patient is active, busy and on the go. They utilize a wide array of communication techniques, from email to Skype. An integrated EMR provides the means for therapists to contact patients via email, phone, and voice and text messaging.

It’s convenient for clients and therapists, and can be used for patient reminders, to gather additional information and send payment reminders.

With a web-based EMR, patient healthcare records are stored securely and can be accessed by multiple providers as the need arises. Therapists are no longer at the mercy of an antiquated system of paper records that can take weeks to arrive and require numerous requests from each individual provider.

The patient’s entire record is available immediately, providing access to essential information about everything from past procedures to allergies.

Modern patients demand convenience and flexibility from their healthcare providers, and an integrated EMR provides that in a variety of arenas, from scheduling appointments to paying their bills. EMRs provide the means for clinicians to manage patient healthcare for better outcomes and facilitate treatments that begin sooner.

EMR technology improves the patient experience and offers increased efficiency, productivity and enhanced reimbursements for therapists.