Pub. 3 2019 Issue 1

images, dictate notes accurately, and to hold meetings by video conference are vital. The long-term goal is to create solutions that give provid- ers everything they need to know about their patients, from home to medical office to hospital. Mobile software can already pair with the software that man- ages EHRs, as well as platforms that manage revenue. Email and text messages allow physicians to follow up with a pa- tient after an appointment. Sending a prescription to phar- macists has also never been easier. In addition, patients and medical staff can communicate through patient portal apps. All these once-impossible conveniences are now something patients expect. Part of the mobile revolution is its involvement in personal health apps. It has always been difficult to coordinate a pa- tient’s activities with what the physician wants that patient to do. But by using weight loss apps and fitness tracking, physi- cians finally have a chance to see whether their patients are taking their advice. Patients can use smartphones and tab- lets; they can also wear devices. The result is a way to combat a lack of exercise or a too-sedentary lifestyle. Just how big is the market? The Global mHealth Solutions Market had a value of $21.3 billion in 2017, but expects to make approxi- mately $160.5 billion by 2024. Smaller medical practices can expect to benefit the most from mobile tech because it can make communication easier and can increase collaboration, boosted by the fact that mobile devices are just not that expensive. Even practices that don’t have deep pockets can generally afford to implement tech that will make the entire practice more effective in its work. That low price is also part of what has caused patients to take an interest. Patients can pick from many different health apps (in December 2016 there were almost 100,000 of them). It’s possible for patients to better manage their diabetes or their nutritional choices. It’s a good idea for medical practices to think about how they look from the point of view of their patients and pro- spective patients, and to come up with an online strategy. This is about more than just having a social media strategy. If someone is looking for your practice, or for a specialty be- ing offered by your practice, how hard is it for them to find you? What can you do to make that search easier for them? How much control do you exercise over what they see? Can you do more, or is the information controlled by a third par- ty? Is the information about your practice and about insur- ance up to date? How hard is it to schedule an appointment? If a patient’s only option is calling the number for a landline phone that lands them in an automated menu system, well, you can do better. Even older patients are becoming more tech savvy, and (ac- cording to a Visual Networking Index created by Cisco), the world now has more mobile devices than there are people. That doesn’t mean patients are necessarily coming into the office armed with accurate information. It’s a good idea to review medical information with patients to ensure that their understanding of their particular situation is correct. Many times, patients are actually misinformed when they arrive for a visit and can therefore benefit from what the physician can teach them. How can a medical practice get ahead of the curve when it comes to its telecommunications system? The obvious starting point is finding a business partner with telecommu- nications skills. That partner can help your practice imple- ment the right tech so you can provide the best possible medical care for your patients. Although mobile technology can make many aspects of pa- tient care easier and more efficient, never forget the impor- tance of the direct communication between patients and physicians. That’s one aspect of medical care that hasn’t been replaced. Yet. . How can a medical practice get ahead of the curve when it comes to its telecommunications system? The obvious starting point is finding a business partner with telecommunications skills. That partner can help your practice implement the right tech so you can provide the best possible medical care for your patients. For more information: 39 |