Just how well are you engaging with your patients?

In today's rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, adopting an omnichannel approach when it comes to connecting and engaging with your patients isn't just about keeping up with technological disruptive trends, it's become an absolute need of the hour!

This has never been more true than now, especially for healthcare providers aiming to enhance patient engagement by streamlining effective patient flow which is covered in
our blog on AI-driven patient journeys.

Time, as we all know is money, and it comes into play when optimizing your patient care resources across every touch point of your medical facility in such a way that it has a

two-way effect: removing all hurdles along a patient's journey from time spent on extensive paperwork during a patient's registration ( it's made all the more easier and efficient with
the Know Your Patient stage from firstpass), to delays in meeting the doctor owing to an endless line of patients in queue beforehand.

So how can patient 'omni-engagement' be effective? The omnichannel approach in patient communication really empowers the patient at every stage of the healthcare journey from patient registration to final check-out, and accounts for the overall
happy patient experience.

Apart from being a binding force between patients and key staff at every stage of the healthcare continuum, it integrates multiple communication channels that cover SMS, WhatsApp, Email, Bots and agents, (even wearables) to offer a seamless and personalized experience to patients…meeting them right where they are!.

It's also important to recognize that the era of omnichannel digitization isn’t an intrusion but a much needed disruption as it aims to enhance the patient experience by being the communication bridge that connects. The wider the channel mix, the better the access for the patient in receiving personalized appointment reminders to telehealth interactions, smartly and efficiently.

The Power of Omnichannel Communication in Healthcare! It really isn’t a surprise to note that the rapid acceleration in adopting an omnichannel approach to deliver ‘personalized experiences’, really got into motion with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A recent study further underlines this fact: 80% of patients (a figure that seems to be growing), prefer digital communication channels, such as emails, texts, or patient portals for appointment reminders and follow-ups, when choosing a healthcare provider of their choice.

Engagement means tapping into the power of conversations. All of this points to an increasingly upward trend in adopting and choosing channels that can deliver 'dynamic human conversations' one that is engaging enough to rise above the levels of mere automated functional messaging

Over 80% of patients, in a recent study conducted among leading healthcare hospitals have come to expect personalised notifications from their healthcare facility.

The same study also reveals that patients who have had a negative experience with no follow up on patient feedback are three times more likely to switch providers, than those who have experienced 'patient satisfaction' as a sentiment. You can read all about this in our blog on the importance of the patient experience and feedback. These could well cover 'no shows' and patient 'waiting times', a topci that you can read about at length in our blog on impatient patients costing you your bottomline. What this reveals is a strong dynamic: patients don't want to be seen as 'token numbers' anymore, they want to be seen as people with their own set of needs and preferences that deserve due and personalised attention.

So how do you really engage your patients? Your patients want tailored 'conversations' that immediately recognizes these with expert precision., not manufactured messaging

A personalised reminder to a patient in following up on a doctor's appointment, providing medicine dosage reminders or sending customised notifications as a self-guide to treating an individual

patient with a specific chronic history, are strong positive indicators that your medical facility is treating your patients as people, not transactions.

WhatsApp: Amplifying healthcare conversations One of the most effective channels that have been enhancing the patient experience is WhatsApp, with its extensive reach and user-friendly interface.

You just can't afford to ignore the fact that you can achieve a 98% open rate with the WhatsApp Marketing platform - when compared to a meagre 20% in an alternative channel such as email in terms of response!

It simply means you can't afford to leverage the power of the WhatsApp Business API platform to streamline every aspect of your business: marketing, sales, service and support, to target your customers with customised messaging resulting in proven conversions!

Here's how you benefit from the Power of WhatsApp:

It enables easy access: As a single dedicated channel, it can hold a patient’s health history; which makes it easily accessible to doctors, nurses and staff within the healthcare ecosystem to study, analyse and share test reesults and medical images with one another instantly.Eliminating the need for physical transfers or logistics while minimising time and effort spet and maximizing revenue.
It paves the way for 2-way communication: Patients also have the option to instantly reach out to doctors for rescheduling or fixing appointments, seek clarifications or connect during emergencies, without any lag or delay in prompt response from the doctor or provider. WhatsApp's instant messaging capabilities enable real-time consultations, allowing patients to receive timely medical advice without the need for in-person visits.
It puts 'method to the madness' in internal communication: Say goodbye to departments working in silos or poor internal communication that could affect your overall business performance! WhatsApp in healthcare plays a vital role in bridging the gaps and streamlining internal communication within the healthcare organization, by creating customised groups for specific departments or teams for faster response and better productivity.
It sensibly optimises resources and saves on business costs: By uniting everyone within the communication ecosystem, you get more open and clear communication that result in creating better teamwork, better patient management and smoother workflows. It also cuts down on the duplication of effort among staff roles by optimising resources which results in better macro management and organizational efficiency adding up to overall patient happiness.
It creates improved Patient Engagement: The platform facilitates better patient adherence to treatment plans through regular reminders and easy access to medical information. Patients can also be monitored remotely, making it easy for healthcare specialists allowing healthcare professionals to track and manage chronic conditions effectively, while also crossding geographies to instantly connect or consult with specialists across the world for timely pooling in of expertise.

firstpass engage: Empowering Efficient Patient Engagement firstpass engage is an innovative omnichannel module designed to revolutionize how healthcare facilities interact with patients, through the power of WhatsApp. By providing a seamless and consistent communication experience across various channels, firstpass engage empowers providers to build stronger patient relationships, enhance patient satisfaction, and drive operational efficiency.

firstpass engage: is your guide to better patient journeys:

Comprehensive communication tools: firstpass engage utilizes a multi-channel approach through WhatsApp, Email, Bots, and SMS to ensure patients receive timely and relevant information throughout their healthcare journey.
SMS notifications: It delivers reliable clinical and non-clinical alerts directly to patients, including appointment reminders, report readiness, feedback requests, and awareness campaigns.
WhatsApp integration: It integrates with WhatsApp Business Accounts to establish conversational flows using bots, allowing for information sharing, query resolution, and service promotion.
Bot functionality: It incorporates a real-time, conversational flow builder (BOT) to reduce call center load, deliver instant information, and personalize patient experiences.
Pre-built BOT templates:It offers a library of pre-built BOT flows for streamlined deployment, including appointment booking, reminders, promotions, and patient on boarding.
Seamless handover to live agents:It ensures complex inquiries are transferred to dedicated live agents, providing personalized support and fostering trust.
Agent performance monitoring:It empowers supervisors to monitor key performance metrics, such as response times and chat volumes, to continuously improve live agent support efficiency.

By embracing an omnichannel approach with tools like firstpass engage,healthcare providers can significantly enhance patient engagement, improve communication efficiency, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes.
To know more about firstpass and how its modules work together in improving the overall healthcare continuum, visit: https://vectramind.com/#/firstpass