There has been a trend toward empowering patients through healthcare technologies in recent years. This patient-centered approach increases compliance and helps ensure better outcomes. It also benefits clinicians who are already overwhelmed by medical compliance requirements and patient load.
With modern medical software solutions like predictive analytics, secure messaging and chat, and even simple online portals, clinicians can get more positive results with less effort. By improving communication, patients can provide more data, making their care easier to manage.
That said, implementing these medical software solutions is challenging. Partnering your organization with a healthcare technology consultant can allow you to take full advantage of new technologies, thereby enjoying the many benefits of empowering patients through medical software.
Increase Patient Engagement with Healthcare Plans
Improving patient engagement with clinicians is a big win in any healthcare organization. Most clinicians would prefer it if their patients asked more questions, were more willing to share healthcare information, and were generally more proactive about their health. Many patients are resistant or lack access to information about their medical conditions.
Medical software solutions can encourage greater patient engagement in multiple ways:
- Increasing opportunities for patients to access their healthcare records and test results whenever they want through online portals
- Enabling patients to securely communicate with their clinicians through different apps, online portals, and text messaging systems
- Making recording and tracking healthcare data easier for the patient (tracking their treatments and compliance with taking medicines)
Have Medical Software Solutions Make Data More Accessible for Patients
Medical software apps and online portals can only increase patients’ access to vital health information. Clinicians will also have an easier time sharing test results, diagnoses, and treatment protocols. When a patient has an involved treatment plan, it is helpful to have the entire protocol visible in an online portal or software app. They can always check to see where they are in the protocol, which can reduce confusion and frustration.
The benefits of improved access to healthcare data for the clinician include:
- Patients can be more informed about their conditions and how to treat them, increasing the odds of a better outcome.
- More access to medical data can increase patient compliance with medical treatment.
- Patients can become more involved in their own care by checking test results and learning what they mean using the provided resources.
- Clinicians can easily access real-time data in patient files when meeting with patients and making diagnoses.
Provide More Data-Driven Insights for Treatment and Research
Healthcare organizations offering additional medical software solutions, such as remote monitoring apps and software, provide clinicians with more information. Remote monitoring software enables patients to track critical health information over time, including:
- Vital signs
- Activity levels
- Symptoms
- Treatment compliance
This kind of data provides real actionable insights that make diagnostics more effective for clinicians. They’ll also be better able to monitor a patient's progress with a new treatment plan. Real-time data enables clinicians to see if new treatments are working faster, and they can also catch adverse reactions to medications sooner.
Additionally, real-time data monitoring is useful for medical researchers who run studies. Participants can report changes in symptoms or the development of health issues. Software apps are simple for study volunteers to use and low-cost to implement. The software also allows for near-constant oversight that catches even the most minute change in health status.
Streamline Communication with Patients and Other Clinicians
Certain medical software solutions focus on improving communication between clinicians and patients. When patients have more avenues to speak with their doctors and nurses or even just to schedule appointments, they can better advocate for themselves. Self-advocacy brings with it all kinds of benefits, including better patient experience, faster diagnoses, and increased engagement with the medical system.
Patient portals and messaging apps should help patients and clinicians communicate more freely. Improved communication also improves the relationship between care providers and patients. The patient can feel more comfortable asking questions, and doctors and clinicians can provide faster responses without altering their daily schedules.
Healthcare technologies can also improve care coordination by:
- Ensuring that all care providers have access to the same patient information and can communicate with the patient easily
- Enabling clinicians to communicate with each other and share information faster
The key to implementing novel medical software solutions is finding a trusted healthcare technology partner, like OtterSoft. With the right IT consultants on your team, you’ll be better equipped to identify the best updates for your healthcare organization. IT consultancies also offer the support and knowledgeable team required to get the process of building new medical software started without delays.
Here at OtterSoft, we help healthcare technology providers drive innovation and integrate systems to seamlessly enable healthcare organizations to identify areas for improvement and implement changes to enhance patient experiences continually. See how we can help you overcome healthcare innovation challenges by strategically partnering with a development team.
