Improving the Provider Experience Through Digital Transformation

The demand for digital transformation in healthcare was prominent prior to the pandemic and has only grown since – and this growth is likely to continue for years to come. In fact, according to HIMSS’ 2022 State of Healthcare Report, 99% of U.S.-based health systems agree that it’s important for their organizations to invest in digital transformation. As our industry continues to move towards patient-centric care through implementation of digital tools, we must consider another perspective – has current technology improved healthcare for the provider? This consideration is imperative, as just last year, 47% of providers across all specialties reported feeling burned out. The time for providers to ease this administrative burden brought on by legacy workflows and systems is now. Here are four ways that digital transformation can improve the provider experience:

Streamlined workflow

The shrinking workforce is one of the biggest challenges facing healthcare today. With limited staff and an increased demand for care, many providers are overworked and experiencing burnout. Digital tools can assist in mitigating these challenges in many ways, such as replacing in-person visits with virtual care sessions and managing patient care plans, referrals and prescription requests virtually. This reduces the time providers must spend in the office and adds valuable hours back to their day. Giving providers the ability to send complaint texts or calls right from their cellphone, while protecting their personal number, allows problems to be solved quickly without the need for an in-person visit.

No more no shows

Digital tools provide patients with convenient re-scheduling methods, giving them the ability to virtually request, schedule and reschedule their appointments. This alleviates challenges for providers, as no-shows become virtually non-existent. Additionally, virtual care may cut visits to the emergency department in half, while also reducing hospitalizations by nearly 90%. The result? Providers are less burdened, and resources become available to those who are in need.

Saving money

Contactless care reduces the cost of office expenses, such as paper, PPE and sanitizing products. The efficiency of digital practices, such as implementing a virtual waiting room, allows providers to see more patients without extending their schedules and limiting time spent sanitizing treatment rooms – ultimately cutting costs.

Meeting patient demand

With the onset of COVID-19, many elective surgeries were postponed, and many patients fell behind on regular healthcare visits. Accommodating a backlog of postponed appointments remains a challenge for many providers. Implementing digital tools allows providers to prepare for the increased demand for both regular visits and elective procedures. With lack of appropriate staffing, the ability to direct resources to the patients in need is a necessity.

Technology and digital health tools alone are not a sufficient solution for a full digital transformation in healthcare. For digital transformation to be effective – we must look beyond the patient, to all stakeholders, to ensure that innovation is woven throughout the entire organization. Let Rhinogram handle the administrative burden and get you back to “why” you got into healthcare.