Explosion of technology and the
information revolution has greatly impacted our healthcare
system
for the better. Not just at the level of treating diseases, but the fact that a
greater number of people are now inside the healthcare network is a testament
to the improved and increasing presence of technology.
In the not so distant past, people
still had to physically be available for consulting a doctor but information
technology and communication has now made remote patient consulting and
tele-medicine common place. The barriers of time & distance are
increasingly shrinking in our times and this means that more & more
patients can have access to quality healthcare.
Communication
technologies
are also greatly improving patient experiences; besides improving hospital
response times. Response time is critical for emergencies, someone in distress
is least likely to be willing (or be happy) if he or she is made to wait
endlessly. The role of technology is not just limited to reducing response
times but also towards improving overall patient-care experience.
Some of the ways wherein
patient-experiences can be improved with better communications & technology
are outlined below:
·
Provide
call handlers with complete patient information to help them better response or
offer advise
·
Send
or receive multimedia files such that it is easy for the patient to send
investigative reports etc.
·
Call
forwarding or remote calling facilities to enable the same consultant to be
available for a patient irrespective of his or her location
The advancements in communications
have expanded the horizons of consumer expectations are it is imperative that
healthcare providers are able to embrace these technologies to better serve
their patients.
Communication advancements provide a
great opportunity for healthcare providers to build better services &
applications for their patients and prospective audience. There is both a need
and opportunity for Australian businesses to grow into. Patients are
increasingly connected online and there is a great reservoir of audience that
healthcare providers can now look to connect with!
Real-time connect with the patients
helps provide preventive services, consultation on prevalent health hazards and
nutritional information. As healthcare providers work increasingly on the
preventive model of healthcare dispensation it is imperative for them to seek
real-time patient information. Patients, on the other hand, need to know that
the healthcare provider will be available whenever required and that all emergency
situations are well-catered to.
Technology also helps create
convenience and comfort resulting in an overall better patient experience. With
our worlds more interconnected today than they have been ever before there is a
greater convergence of the different spheres of our lives. Being able to access
medical information on the go, set up doctor appointments, order medicines and
consult with doctors remotely are all various facets of the ever increasing
patient demands – which healthcare providers can now cater to with advancements
in communication technology!
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