As the healthcare industry moves towards a patient-centered model, where the patient and provider work as partners to improve a patient’s overall well-being, it is important for medical facilities to create resources that increase patient engagement. This is where technology can be impactful. According to HIMSS, a patient’s greater engagement in health care contributes to improved health outcomes, and information technologies can support engagement (The State of Patient Engagement and Health IT, 2014). Implementing technology to manage a patient’s health care gives patients the capability to better access their health information, improve communication between the patient and the provider, and provide patient education. Knowledge is power, and with this knowledge at the patient’s fingertips they are more likely to feel empowered and engaged in their healthcare. At Simple Admit, our platform of services works to make patients feel more empowered and engaged in their healthcare.
Our online pre-op screening platform allows patients to directly submit their required health history electronically instead of during a lengthy phone call with a nurse. This is empowering to patients because they can take as much time as they need to input this information at their own convenience. Outpatient facilities benefit because they are receiving timely and up to date information directly from the patient.
Simple Admit’s integrated suite of patient engagement services enable patients to stay connected to the provider throughout the continuum of care. Patients are educated and engaged during the process with reminder phone calls and text messages as well as automated e-mails that provide pertinent information patients need to be prepared for their upcoming procedure. Patients can also pay their bill online prior to their day of service and complete a patient satisfaction survey after their visit. Through this entire process, Simple Admit provides customer support to patients who have questions and/or need assistance with submitting their health information.
A study by the Journal of Medical Internet Research has shown that when health care professionals are able to review information submitted by a patient, it fosters a deeper and more accurate understanding of a patient’s illness as well as better informed visits with patients. It also promotes patient engagement.
Simple Admit brings the personal touch needed in a technology-based world. Our primary goal is to save outpatient facilities time by assisting their patients in managing their own healthcare. For example, when patients call our Patient Engagement Center, they always have a live voice on the other end of the line whether they are calling to complete their health questionnaire, need technical support online, or have other questions. When patients are immediately able to get a live person on the phone who can assist them and answer their questions, they feel more educated and confident about their upcoming appointment. Improving the patient experience in this way can help to improve the medical facility’s patient satisfaction scores.
At Simple Admit, our mission when creating new technologies focuses on improving medical outcomes by engaging patients and enabling them to control their medical care. Understanding the value of patient engagement is a driving force behind all of our suite of solutions. Every service offers opportunities to improve communication and information sharing between providers and patients. That’s a win- win.
