The healthcare industry has historically been cautious about embracing technology. When COVID-19 hit the U.S. last year, however, it forced many healthcare organizations to go digital and underlined the need for digital healthcare tools. The rise in telehealth services and the focus on patient and staff safety rapidly accelerated the digital transformation of healthcare overall and the patient journey.

One of the most critical touchpoints of the patient experience is the intake process. During the pandemic, patients and healthcare workers needed a safer way to gather critical patient data. Interlace Health’s Patient Intake solution provides a zero-contact option for patients to give healthcare providers the information they need to deliver the best care possible.

It enables patients to:

• Complete digital forms and other pre-appointment steps on their phones to reduce contact with healthcare staff and the time in waiting rooms with other patients.
• Make payments online and on time.
• Accurately provide their information to avoid insurance denials and other issues.

Most importantly, the Patient Intake solution streamlines current processes to make the patient journey more seamless than it was before the pandemic. Instead of replacing what’s already in place, it uses technology in a way that improves the patient experience, creates the most accurate data, and lets providers do what they do best: care for the people who need them.

The Impact of Technology in Healthcare

The past year has been defined by digital transformations across several industries. Brick-and-mortar stores have embraced e-commerce, and entertainment companies pivoted to virtual events. While the healthcare industry quickly expanded telehealth visits and other digital offerings, the impact of technology in healthcare would likely not have been as immediate without the pandemic.

These widespread changes were all motivated by consumer satisfaction and a need for businesses to pivot and adapt. Consumers had to significantly change the way they engage with companies, something that was true of the way they engaged with healthcare organizations.

Creating a more digital experience meets patients’ newly established expectations. Interlace Health’s Patient Intake solution helps maximize the benefits of technology in healthcare by working with current portals to connect with patients. While it improves the patient experience with digital healthcare tools, it also empowers healthcare providers to take care of their staff members and improve their bottom line. Here are two of the solution’s most notable features:

1. Technology That Improves the Patient Experience

Interlace Health’s Patient Intake solution relies on technology that patients already feel comfortable using and gives them more control over their healthcare journey. As COVID-19 turned lives upside down, many patients felt a loss of control over their health. Patients can now regain a handle on their health and healthcare journeys by using their personal devices to pay their health bills, communicate with their doctors, schedule appointments, and even reduce time spent in waiting rooms.

Patient Intake also increases patient engagement, which is critical for better outcomes. According to Luma Health, patients respond to text messages from their healthcare providers 23% to 35% more frequently than phone calls or emails. Our solution communicates with patients about their next steps via these channels to increase interaction — even in older populations.

2. Benefits for Hospitals and Other Providers

We created our Patient Intake solution with healthcare organizations in mind, especially those relying on paper processes. Often, patients either forget to pay their bills or fail to do so when only receiving paper bills. In fact, many healthcare organizations face as much as $10 million in bad debt due to uncollected balances. Patient Intake addresses this by prompting payment before the appointment — similar to a retail experience — and making the overall process easier for patients.

Beyond that, 41% of surveyed health systems said they still use paper forms and clipboards to collect patient information in-person, which leaves room for human error, safety concerns, and extended wait times. Interlace Health’s Patient Intake solution uses digital healthcare tools to make the patient — and staff — experience much smoother.

Over the past year, so much of the way the world operates has shifted — as have expectations. Interlace Health integrates with existing tools and technologies to help health systems better meet those expectations.

To learn more about how our Patient Intake solution can transform your organization, download our Patient Intake infographic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Over the past five years, Lauren Ziegler has been a member of Interlace Health’s Marketing team, coordinating and executing marketing communication initiatives, such as copywriting and content management, public and media relations, social media, and corporate communications. She has over a decade of experience in working with technology companies. Lauren is passionate about helping the healthcare community understand Interlace’s Health’s value, vision, and commitment to improving experiences for providers, patients, and staff.