Healthcare consumerization is the shift of responsibility and power from healthcare providers to the patient. In today’s digital environment, a journey of personal health exploration is now possible for any person – with direct access to information about facility options and healthcare procedures. As a result, patients now expect more from their healthcare provider in terms of convenience, quality, and price.
Increased Patient Engagement
Through the use of healthcare consumerization, providers can offer new and innovative ways for patients and families to interact with them – from online forms that allow for easy scheduling of appointments, to telemedicine platforms that enable virtual visits from anywhere in the world. Healthcare professionals can also offer patients access to specialized wellness tools and resources that promote proactive monitoring of health needs. For instance, some organizations have implemented apps that equip users with information on providing self-care resources or answers questions they may have regarding their medical care plan – allowing them to take greater control over their health journey.
Improved Patient Satisfaction
One of the core benefits of healthcare consumerization is improved patient satisfaction. It refers to making information and services more accessible to consumers. It centers on modernizing and customizing clinical care, improving data security and trust to improve patient experiences across all phases of their care journey. Through digital tools geared towards providing easier access and more comprehensive information about treatments, providers, facilities, or insurance options, consumers have a better understanding of their options when making decisions regarding their own health.
Increased Patient Loyalty
This concept encourages a shift away from traditional provider-controlled solely healthcare to a personalized and consumer-driven system in which the patient has more information and control regarding their own healthcare. Healthcare consumerization provides patients with the tools they need to better understand, navigate, and manage their health – enabling them to take more ownership of their decisions and make informed choices while positively impacting provider loyalty.
Offer Self-Scheduling
Offering a self-scheduling capability is one of the most effective strategies for implementing healthcare consumerization. Allowing patients to book appointments online, as well as enabling them to view, change and cancel appointments in real time gives them greater control of their healthcare experience. Self-scheduling not only makes it easier for patients to manage their availability and frequency of visits – but it also offers the potential to reduce wait times by making timely and appropriate substitutions when necessary. In addition, it increases convenience and removes friction associated with traditional scheduling practices, such as long hold times on the phone or needing an administrative assistant to coordinate appointments over multiple locations.
Implement Online Payment Solutions
In today’s digital world, online payment solutions can provide easy access to payments, streamline administrative processes, and enable consumers to control how they pay for healthcare services. Consumers are becoming increasingly reliant on online payment solutions, such as apps and websites, to make purchases. Offering online payment solutions gives patients increased flexibility in how they pay for healthcare services.
Overall, helping your patients stay in control of their health with technology can lead to greater loyalty. Improved customer service can bring positive reviews which will help you attract new customers while also keeping current patients happy and engaged in your services—strengthening the provider-patient relationship over time.
