According to the 2019 Healthcare Trends Survey, caregiver empowerment and patient engagement are key to patient retention and practice growth. This is evidenced by the top 3 healthcare trends for 2019: industry consolidation, consumerism, and telehealth.
By Bill Foster Director of Business Development, Healthcare at Spectralink
As mergers and acquisitions in healthcare continue to rise, healthcare organizations must work harder to maintain a consistent and high-quality care experience for patients. Communication is a big part of the equation. Not only does it contribute to the improvement of patient outcomes but also reduces the number of medical errors. Research suggests that medical errors play an even bigger role in preventable deaths in U.S. hospitals than previously estimated, and 80 percent of all serious medical errors involve miscommunication. That amounts to 250,000 – 400,000 deaths every year. Tools that help medical professionals communicate more quickly, accurately, and collaboratively are critical to saving lives.
Industry consolidation requires significant procedural adjustments for caregivers and their patients. Thus, having access to intelligent tools to navigate shifting vendor and technology sets is essential. Caregivers need to be able to trouble-shoot quickly, and extra effort needs to be made to keep patients engaged in the process.
Empower mobile collaboration of healthcare teams
The Harvard Business Review found that 93% of physicians think mobile health apps can improve healthcare patient outcomes. Here are 3 ways to advance patient engagement in the face of industry consolidation:
Improve Patient Care
A good experience naturally builds loyalty and engagement. Investing in the patient experience not only improves patient satisfaction and outcomes, but also improves patient loyalty as well as caregiver success and retention.
Satisfied patients are more likely to provide positive reviews of a healthcare practice in post-service surveys and marketing case studies, as well as improved HCAHPS Scores, positive reviews in social media channels, or word-of-mouth recommendations. In short, satisfied patients are good for business.
Provide Access to Technology that Improves Operational Efficiencies
Legacy communication devices aren’t acceptable in a healthcare setting. Speed can actually save lives. Equipping caregivers with purpose-built mobile devices that provide access to essential patient information is key. These smart devices should:
- Deliver rugged durability in a light form factor
- Be user-friendly to increase engagement
- Have best-in-class security and HIPAA compliance
- Facilitate patient monitoring and alerts for faster response
- Integrate seamlessly with your EHR/EMR and nurse call systems
Efficient technology solutions designed for healthcare providers streamline workflows while improving patient care, allowing organizations to care for more patients without diminishing quality of care.
Empower Better Communication Between Caregivers
Fast, robust, and well-integrated healthcare mobility solutions empower caregivers to communicate more clearly and frequently with patients and fellow healthcare professionals. When communication is made easy, caregivers can quickly ask for consults, confirm prescription/care plan details, and respond to concerning alarms and alerts faster.
These are just three of many ways healthcare organizations can respond to industry disruption with better communication. Organizations that prioritize patient care and empower caregiver communication and collaboration will be better prepared to weather market shifts. To explore more ways to address the top healthcare trends of 2019, visit the Spectralink website.