The healthcare industry relies on technology for numerous purposes — billing, scheduling, and documentation, to name a few. And a new survey found providers are increasingly relying on tech to engage patients.
The poll from patient engagement business PatientPoint and nonprofit think tank Digital Health Coalition included responses from more than 200 doctors. The survey was powered by physician social network SERMO.
Ninety-five percent of physician respondents said they sometimes or nearly always use technology to better educate or engage with patients.
“I think a big reason why we’re seeing such high utilization of patient engagement tools is because physicians truly believe in the power of technology to provide better care,” PatientPoint founder and CEO Mike Collette said via email.
Indeed, 77 percent of surveyed doctors agreed technology helps improve patients’ overall experience.
Digging deeper, the survey asked what types of tech physicians are currently using to engage or educate patients. The top answers included digital waiting room screens (58 percent), mobile apps (46 percent) and exam room tablets (44 percent).
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Collette noted these tools all allow providers to have more meaningful conversations with patients. He explained:
The waiting room screens empower patients to ask about treatment options, enroll in patient portals and adhere to preventive screenings and immunizations. In the exam room, patients can take a deep dive into their condition alongside their doctor via rich media like anatomical models and videos. Then patients can continue their education and conversation with their doctor on mobile apps before and after their visit, bringing things full circle.
Other solutions currently in use by doctors included check-in tablets (34 percent), digital screens in the back office (33 percent) and interactive touchscreens in the exam room (28 percent).
When asked about which types of technology they’re interested in utilizing in the future, 52 percent of doctors pointed to check-in tablets. Additionally, two key locations stood out as important touchpoints: the waiting room and the exam room. Thirty-six percent of physicians are interested in digital waiting room screens, while 45 percent want exam room tablets and 44 percent want interactive touchscreens in the exam room.
Collette said these two spaces — the exam room and the waiting room — are pivotal, and that doctors see the benefits of engaging individuals there.
But patient engagement doesn’t only happen in the office. That’s perhaps why 54 percent of physicians said they want help connecting to patients before and after their visits. Those surveyed said they’re interested in using a variety of technologies to connect with patients outside the office, including email (59 percent), mobile apps (48 percent) and SMS texting (39 percent).
Photo: Halfpoint, Getty Images
