Why Telemedicine Solutions Are Better Than Traditional Communication Methods

Telemedicine solutions are in high demand as patients seek more convenient ways to communicate with healthcare providers. As an innovative form of healthcare, telemedicine provides advanced ways for physicians and patients to connect remotely through virtual means.

However, no matter how beneficial telemedicine solutions are, some physicians and patients still prefer traditional healthcare communication methods because they are more accustomed to them. Adopting new technologies is often overwhelming, especially if you’re used to doing something in a certain way.

Telemedicine solutions play an integral role in today’s healthcare setting. Undeniably, digital health communications are more advantageous to physicians and patients than traditional communication forms.

The following are some of the most common reasons why telemedicine solutions are better than traditional communication methods.

Traditional clinical communication methods consume a lot of time that you could spend on other essential tasks.

In a conventional healthcare setting, patients book their appointments by calling the office. That kind of setup worked for a long time until the digital age brought on a culture of patients who opt for easy communication with healthcare providers.

The truth is, patients want to take advantage of technological advancements, especially with simple tasks such as scheduling appointments. They’d rather use their smartphones to quickly schedule and reschedule appointments instead of calling their physician’s front desk, where they may be put on hold while the staff checks for available slots in the schedule or helps another patient.

The traditional healthcare communication setup is time-consuming, while digital health communications are instant. That is why telemedicine solutions allowing easy communication between clinical offices and patients is essential.

The FICO Global Survey says that four out of five people prefer using text messaging to communicate with healthcare providers. Two-way texting is the feature patients request most. Text messaging allows physicians to quickly and directly relay vital information to enhance care outcomes.

With text messaging, patients can book an appointment quickly, while, for instance, grocery shopping or eating lunch. Additionally, texting is a great way for physicians to inform their patients of medical information, send appointment reminders, or relay any other needs outside the office.

Patients are more likely to be communicative with telemedicine solutions, leading to better care results.

Traditional healthcare communications are limited. Keeping front desk staff available 24/7 to answer patient phone calls is not a practical solution, and after-hour services do not do more than take a message.

Telemedicine solutions offer medical practices 2-way texting solutions with automated responses to ease the workload.

With the added convenience of digital communication, patients communicate with their healthcare providers more frequently since they don’t have to wait  to get the front desk staff on the phone or to return a message.

Through telemedicine solutions, patients will be more likely to get in touch with their physicians whenever they have medical questions or issues. Patients become more comfortable being involved with their healthcare, producing better treatment outcomes.

Healthcare providers have shifted to telemedicine solutions to increase patient engagement, promote virtual visits, and reduce appointment cancellations and no-shows. No longer is an in-person appointment needed for check-ups or minor treatments — and patients like that.

Telemedicine solutions guarantee health data protection and an efficient workflow, which traditional communications cannot.

Physicians can’t disclose healthcare-related information over traditional communication methods, such as via phone calls. Patient health information must be kept private and secure. However, in a traditional healthcare setting, paper-based records containing patient health data are vulnerable to damage and theft.

Telemedicine solutions such as Curogram offer digitisation while providing security of electronic health information (EHR). Curogram is entirely HIPAA compliant and integrates with EHRs, making storing and accessing data much simpler.

The clinic staff doesn’t have to spend hours transcribing illegible handwriting and inputting the data into an EHR. Curogram does it automatically through digital forms, saving time while increasing data accuracy. Physicians can easily and safely access uploaded EHRs.

Online reviews are more dominant than word-of-mouth testimonials. Curogram can help you get positive patient reviews through telemedicine solutions.

Traditional healthcare communication methods include word-of-mouth testimonials from patients to endorse physicians to potential patients.

Although verbal recommendations can help gain new patients, collecting positive patient reviews online allows a medical practice to reach and attract a broader potential patient pool while growing its online reputation.

As part of its telemedicine solutions, Curogram offers a feature enabling happy patients to leave reviews on a healthcare provider’s website or social media, potentially increasing their search engine rankings.

With Curogram, physicians can set up automatic messages, including appointment follow-ups with links to review sites. A quick reminder with an easy-to-follow link helps patients leave a positive review in just a few minutes.

Curogram’s system also tracks patient reviews and follows up on who leaves 4- and 5-star ratings, with links to Google Business, Yelp, Facebook, or other platforms to share their positive experience. More importantly, Curogram can intercept a negative review before it gets published. It allows physicians to resolve the issue privately before it gets out on the internet and influences potential patients against choosing their practice.

While for centuries, traditional communications in the healthcare setting have allowed physicians to connect to patients and deliver appropriate care, telemedicine solutions technology paves the way for various communication forms, leading to better healthcare access.

Telemedicine solutions have taken the healthcare industry far beyond traditional doctor-patient communication methods. They eliminate many communication limitations to create more satisfied patients and improve care outcomes.