Author: Jeff Tormey
Healthcare Email Marketing: Why It’s Powerful and Popular
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Email Marketing.
1. An Effective Channel for Reaching Patients
Email marketing can be used to reach patients in several different ways. For example, it can be used to:- Send appointment reminders
- Share educational content about medications and health goals
- Promote healthy living tips
- Announce changes or new services at your practice
2. Emails Have a High Open Rate and Click-Through Rate
The healthcare sector has one of the highest open rates for emails compared to other industries. In fact, according to an expert study by eMarketer, the healthcare sector had an open rate of 21.53% in 2018. It is significantly higher than the average open rate for all industries, which was 15.14%. Similarly, the healthcare sector has a higher click-through rate (CTR) for emails. The CTR measures the number of people who click on a link in an email divided by the number of people who received the email.3. A Personalized Marketing Effect to Support Branding
Email marketing is a highly personalized form of marketing as it allows you to address your patients and potential customers by name, which creates a more human connection. In addition, email communications allow you to share your brand’s story in a way that builds trust and credibility. For example, you can share patient testimonials, stories about how your practice has helped others, or even videos that show the human side of your brand. Read this article on Promotion Tricks to Get You Patients to Use the Patient Portal for streamlined operations.4. A Cost-effective Solution
An email marketing campaign is a cost-effective idea for healthcare providers. It does not require a large budget to start and can be scaled up or down as needed. Email marketing is flexible, allowing you to precisely send messages to specific segments of your list or target new audiences. Guideway Care provides healthcare engagement solutions in Atlanta, Georgia. Our team of patient engagement specialists works with you to increase patient satisfaction, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs.Why Text Messages Is Best for Healthcare Companies: 4 Amazing Benefits
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Healthcare Companies.
1) Send Appointment Reminders
One of the fundamental ways to use text messaging in healthcare is to send appointment reminders. Studies have shown that appointment reminder text messages can reduce patient no-show rates by up to 30 percent! If you own a healthcare business, then you know that no-shows are a big problem. They cost your business time and money and can also impact your patient satisfaction scores. You can also set up automated reminders, so you don’t have to worry about manually sending them out each time.2) Provide Better Customer Service
Healthcare companies can use SMS to provide better customer service in several ways. For example, they can use it to answer questions from patients or their families and give post-operative instructions. Text messaging is a perfect way to communicate with patients who may not be able to speak on the phone, such as those who are hard of hearing, physically challenged, or have a condition that makes it difficult to talk. Read more: Four Reasons Why Your CRM System is Your Most Valuable Asset.3) HIPAA Compliant
Text messaging in health care is a secure way to communicate with patients. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has strict guidelines about sharing patient information. HIPAA-compliant text messaging is a way to share information with patients. Texting is considered a low-risk activity regarding HIPAA compliance because text messages are not stored on servers, unlike email. In addition, texts are encrypted and can be password protected.4) Better Staffing and Increased Productivity
Another great benefit of patient texting in healthcare is it can help with staffing and productivity. By being able to communicate quickly with staff, you can ensure everyone is on the same page and that tasks are completed promptly. It can lead to an efficient workplace and better patient care. Guideway Care provides the best solutions for healthcare sector. Our expert team provides you with the latest technology and software so that your hospital team can improve communication and collaboration.Why Is The Patient Experience So Important In Healthcare?
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Connect.
How do we define the “patient experience”?
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the patient experience is defined as the range of interactions that patients have with the healthcare system. This is wide ranging and encompasses their experience with their health plans, doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and facilities. The patient experience, however, is not the same thing as patient satisfaction. Satisfaction has much more to do about whether the patient’s expectations have been met. It’s much more individual and has to do more with what the patient wants, rather than what the patient actually gets. To learn more about the difference between patient experience and patient satisfaction, check out this article: Understanding the Difference Between Patient Satisfaction vs. Patient ExperienceImportance of patient experience in healthcare
Although patient experience is not the same as patient satisfaction, the two are related. Patient satisfaction is driven by positive perceptions of the patient experience. According to a Washington Health Alliance Study, the biggest drivers of patient satisfaction were related to these statements:- “The provider cared about me as a person.”
- “The provider listened carefully to me.”
- “The provider knew important information about my medical history.”
- “The provider explained things in a way that was easy to understand.”
- “The provider answered all my questions to my satisfaction.”
How Do We Measure Patient Experience?
The most common way that patient experience is measured is through CAHPS surveys. CAHPS stands for Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, and is a survey that is provided to patients to report on their experience. The surveys are designed in such a way that the data can be used for statistical analysis.How Can We Improve The Patient Experience?
Three ways that healthcare providers can improve the patient experience are to involve patients in their own care, reduce wait times, and make it easy as possible to schedule an appointment. Involving patients in their own care requires keeping patients adequately informed about the details of their care. Most patients do not have a high level of health literacy, and they require education. However, many patients may not have the patience to learn everything there is to know about their care. For this reason, it’s up to the doctors to help them understand the decisions they need to make. Reducing wait times has to do more with how well the organization functions. If there are frequent scheduling problems, then wait times will be extended as a result. Appointment scheduling is made easy by allowing patients to schedule appointments online, ideally through your mobile website. Guideway Care provides healthcare website solutions that integrate with scheduling software, which gives patients more control over their appointments. Making all of these things easy is no small task, and that’s where Guideway Care can help. Guideway Care offers a variety of solutions for healthcare providers to help improve the patient experience on several levels. Learn more about patient experience here: Patient Experience Statistics You Can’t Afford To IgnorePatient Engagement Review: Why Engaged Patients Have Better Outcomes
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Connect.
What Engaged Patients Do That Others Don’t
According to the California Healthcare Foundation, patient engagement is the “active involvement of the patient in his/her healthcare” (California Healthcare Foundation, n.d.). They attend their appointments on time and feel comfortable asking questions. They are more likely to take their medications as prescribed and avoid the emergency room when a problem could be solved at the doctor’s office or clinic. They have a better experience, which often leads to them becoming loyal patients and referring family and friends to the doctor. This translates into better health and lower costs for you.Patient Engagement and Patient Satisfaction
A study done for the California Healthcare Foundation showed that a focus on patient engagement improved satisfaction. Getting online access to health records, for example, allowed them to get a satisfaction rating of 90%. Patients are defined as engaged if they anticipate that they will stay engaged with their healthcare provider. Patients who are not engaged with their healthcare provider are less likely to understand their treatment options and adhere to their treatment plan. They miss opportunities to ask questions and get clear explanations. As a result, they may feel like they weren’t given proper, personalized care. The reality is that they weren’t given the opportunity to engage in the way that was most comfortable for them.How You Can Improve Patient Engagement In Your Practice
Patient engagement is crucial to achieving the goals of patient-centered healthcare, as it can improve the patient experience, improve outcomes, and save costs. To engage patients, providers need to know the unique needs of their patients and create an experience that matches those needs. The best way to engage your patients is to listen to them, and understand what is most important to them. Then, provide high-quality service, and use the power of relationship building to build a strong connection with your patients so that they feel like you are on their side. Streamlining your services may also have a positive effect on patient engagement. For example, allowing patients to do everything they need to do online will help them take a more active role in their care. Scheduling appointments, viewing appointment summaries, getting access to their electronic medical records (EMR), and communicating with their providers are all things that patients should be able to access online.Healthcare Engagement Solutions
Guideway Care has a variety of healthcare engagement solutions that you can use in your medical practice. From patient portals to health education and more, Guideway Care has the tools you need to improve patient engagement in your practice.The Significance of Patient Reviews in Healthcare
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Connect.
5 Reasons Patient Feedback and Reviews are Important in the Healthcare Industry
Patient Feedback Can Improve The Patient Experience
Feedback from patients can help providers improve the quality of care their patients receive. It can also provide providers with an opportunity to learn about the experiences of the patients they care for, which can help them improve the quality of care they provide. Feedback has been shown to improve the patient experience, which has been shown to increase the likelihood that a patient will return for future visits. Learn more about this: Patient Engagement StatisticsPatient Feedback Can Help Make Sense of Online Reviews
Over the past few decades, we have become accustomed to relying on online reviews as part of the decision-making process when we make these important purchases. While reviews can be a valuable resource, they’re also plagued by a number of shortcomings, including a lack of transparency and the potential for manipulation. By reconciling patient feedback with reviews that you get on Google or Yelp, you can use the information to address shortcomings in your practice and improve your reputation going forward.Patient Feedback Can Help Improve the Quality of Care
As a healthcare provider, you deserve to get feedback from your patients on your care. By facilitating this feedback, you can improve the quality of the care you provide. That’s why, as part of your overall patient experience, you need to actively solicit feedback from your patients. Many patients have a hard time expressing their concerns, especially to healthcare professionals. They may feel stigmatized due to their situation, or may be embarrassed at their level of health literacy. Getting their feedback can help them take a more active role in their care, and showing that you’re using their feedback to improve their care can improve their satisfaction. It’s a virtuous cycle.Patient Feedback Can Improve Patient Retention
Acting on feedback from patients can help make care more personalized. This in turn improves the patient experience further, and helps the patient feel as if the care they receive is perfect for them. Being able to ask questions and provide responsive, personalized service and information has an impact beyond boosting patient satisfaction, especially for new patients and patients who have been referred by others. They’re more likely to stay with your practice if they feel that you care about them and their concerns. Want to learn more strategies for improving patient retention? Check out this article: Proven Patient Retention Strategies That WorkPatient Feedback Can Give Your Practice a Competitive Edge in the Market
Customer feedback is the lifeblood of every business, and whether your practice serves a geographic area or is a national one, it’s important to know that patients and patients’ families want to give you feedback, and that you have an opportunity to act on that feedback. By responding to patient feedback, you’re going to build relationships with your patients and build trust, which are the foundation of any strong patient-provider relationship. This trust creates a strong competitive advantage for your practice. Since you’re gathering information from your patients, you may be able to uncover important insights about your practice that can help you improve and grow.How To Schedule Patients Effectively: Medical Appointment Scheduling Guidelines
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Connect.
Medical Appointment Scheduling Tips
Allow patients to self-schedule online.
Giving patients the ability to schedule their own appointments has many advantages. First, it involves them in their own care, albeit in a small way. Second, it helps you keep your scheduling process streamlined. Third, it saves your staff time and saves you billable hours. It also improves patient satisfaction, as they feel like they were able to visit your office on their terms. If you’re still not convinced, we wrote a whole article on this. Read: Key Reasons Healthcare Practices Should Offer Online SchedulingCreate a patient waiting list.
Last minute cancellations happen, often for legitimate reasons. However, this doesn’t make them any less disruptive. One way to lessen the impact of these disruptions is to implement a patient waiting list. Ask patients during scheduling if they wish to be on a waiting list to get an earlier appointment. Then, in the case of a last minute no show, send mass text messages to patients on the waiting list.Use an automated patient recall system.
Patient recall systems help you in two ways. First, it helps make sure that patients schedule regular appointments with you, which helps keep your schedule full. Second, it can help bring back patients who haven’t had regular appointments in a while. These patients often miss their appointments because life gets in the way. But, with an effective patient recall system, you can keep patients on top of their appointments and keep your schedule booked. Read more: Using Automated Phone Calls and Texts to Improve Patient OutcomesPrioritize appointments.
Different patients have different needs. Some patients require more time and higher levels of care. Other patients may not need to be brought in at all. This is where prioritizing appointments can be very effective. To do this most efficiently, have a staff member evaluate each call coming in to determine whether the patient needs to be seen for an in-person appointment, or whether a phone consultation would suffice. This way, you will be able to keep your schedule full while also serving your patients in the best possible way.Collect and use data to find opportunities to improve.
As a burgeoning medical practice, there’s a lot that’s happening that you might not be tracking. Some of this data may reveal issues in your scheduling and patient intake flow. Some of this may deal with how well you’re converting patients. If your patient pipeline has leaks, or if your staff is spending too much time on tasks that could be automated, then addressing these issues will be important for improving appointment scheduling. Guideway Care provides software that allows you to track trends in patient conversion and activation. If you’re looking for a patient tracking system to meet your needs, check out Guideway Care solutions here: Patient Tracking SystemHow To Create A Strategic Healthcare Marketing Plan In 5 Steps
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Connect.
Healthcare Marketing Explained
Healthcare marketing is the process of attracting, generating, and managing demand for healthcare services. Healthcare marketing plans are used to drive sales, generate leads, and develop relationships with prospective customers. A healthcare marketing plan can be customized to meet the unique needs of a particular business, industry, and target market. Curious about why some healthcare providers aren’t able to market themselves effectively? Check out this article: The Biggest Challenges in Marketing in the Healthcare Industry5 Steps To A Strong Medical Practice Marketing Plan
Define Your Target Audience
Your target audience is the group of people you want to attract to your medical practice or hospital. For a business, the target audience is the group of people who are most likely to need what you have to offer. However, for medical practices, you need to look at your target audience from a different perspective. Medical practices need to understand the demographics of their local market, as well as why they’re in need of their services. They will use this information to tailor marketing messages specifically to this market. Not only that, it’s important that you understand the niche you operate in. By having a niche and understanding your market, you improve your chances of long term success.Decide on your goals
Depending on where you are in your practice, your goals for your healthcare marketing plan will be different. Opening a new practice in a new city requires different goals than growing an existing practice. Is your goal to increase the number of patients in your practice? Is it to improve your practice’s reputation? Or is it to open up new opportunities for a new location? Decide why you need a healthcare marketing plan and move forward based on that. Don’t deviate from your original goal by trying to satisfy every possible metric!Use a SWOT Analysis To Assess The Situation
A SWOT analysis is a common tool used to assess the situation of a business, either new or existing. It consists of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Strengths and Weaknesses are specific to your organization, whereas Opportunities and Threats have to do with the situation such as competition and the economy. Once you do it, don’t sit on it: use what you have in your SWOT analysis to determine what you need to do in order to meet your goals. Read more: How to Use SWOT Analysis in Healthcare: Steps and StrategiesDecide Your Marketing Activities & Budgets
Now that you know your target audience, your goals, and your situation, you can decide which marketing activities you will invest in, and how much you want to invest in each. It’s tempting to just do everything all at once, but there are some things that matter more than others. For example, if your goal is to grow the number of patients in your practice, focusing on search engine marketing (SEM) and paid social media will likely be the key. However, if your goal is to improve your reputation, you’ll want to invest in reputation management, social media marketing and public relations. Determine your budget based on how much you want to spend on each marketing objective. Assign the bulk of your budget to the most important activity. Remember the 80/20 principle: 80% of your results will come from 20% of your activities.Establish KPIs
Now that you’ve decided what you’ll be investing in, you have to decide on metrics for success. You need to be able to monitor the results of your marketing activities and make adjustments as needed, otherwise you’re shooting in the dark. Your KPIs should be based on your activities and your goals. For example, if you’re trying to grow your practice and are investing primarily in SEM, you might want to track the amount of traffic to your website, your rankings on search engines, and the number of new patients you’ve acquired. If you’re trying to improve your reputation, you might be looking at the number of reviews you’ve received, improvement on patient surveys, and the reduction of negative reviews. Guideway Care offers healthcare marketing services to help medical practices in all stages of the marketing process. If you’re looking to grow your practice, improve your reputation, or simply grow your brand awareness, learn more about medical marketing strategies! Ready to take your practice to the next level? Contact us today to get started!What Benefits Can Patient Satisfaction Surveys Bring?
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Connect.
1. Start a Conversation with Patients
One of the most important benefits of patient satisfaction surveys is that they can help you start a conversation with your patients. By asking questions about their experience, you can get feedback that can help you improve your practice. You can also use the results of the survey to show your patients that you care about their experience and that you are committed to improving it!2. Identify Problems with Your Practice
Another benefit of patient satisfaction surveys is that they can help identify problems with your practice. If you see a pattern of negative feedback, you can take steps to address the issue. This can help prevent dissatisfied patients from leaving your practice and helps ensure that your patients are getting the best possible care!3. Benchmark Your Practice vs. the Market
Patient satisfaction surveys can be used to benchmark your practice against other practices. By comparing your results to other practices, you can see where you need to improve. This can help you set goals and make improvements that will benefit your patients!4. Identify the Strengths of Your Practice
In addition to identifying areas for improvement, patient satisfaction surveys can also help you identify the strengths of your practice. This feedback can be used to promote your practice and attract new patients!5. Support Data-based Decision Making
Patient satisfaction surveys can help support data-based decision-making. By collecting data on your patients’ experiences, you can make informed decisions about how to improve your practice. This data can also be used to justify changes or investments that you make in your practice!6. Improve Performance
Finally, patient satisfaction surveys can help improve performance. By using the results of the survey to identify areas for improvement, you can make changes that will positively impact your patients’ experience. This can lead to increased satisfaction and loyalty from your patients!Conclusion
If you are not already using patient satisfaction surveys, we encourage you to start! They are a valuable tool that can help you improve your practice and provide better care for your patients. If you have any questions about how to get started, feel free to contact us! We would be happy to help with your patient engagement statistics.The Importance of Patient Satisfaction – And How to Improve It
Written by Jeff Tormey on . Posted in Connect.









