Appointment scheduling can often be one of the first interactions between the patient and provider. The information collected can help determine the urgency of the need for an appointment. With the consumerization of healthcare, it is critical that providers offer a better patient experience, including convenient scheduling and more immediate access to care. Limited appointment times may delay needed care, and if telephone is the only option for scheduling appointments, patients may need alternative options online.

There are several ways practices can create a more consumer-centric model to approach scheduling, including:

• Offering a patient portal: Online scheduling can provide a fast and convenient way to make appointments with a provider
• Expanding telemedicine: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual appointments have increased, allowing practices to be more agile while also expanding care delivery to vulnerable and immobile populations
• Adopting open or expanded office hours: Structured appointment time to accommodate more same-day requests help improve responsiveness to patients’ needs while also potentially improving satisfaction rates

Download our latest white paper, “Prepare for a revolution in the patient experience: Consumerization trends defining the future of healthcare,” to learn more about the benefits of fast, easy, and flexible scheduling and the potential benefits to your bottom line.

Check out our previous post on the importance of provider reputation, and watch for additional posts in this series that discuss other common expectations of today’s healthcare buyers, including:

• Remote patient care
• Collaborative care profiles
• Transparent billing