Today, there are abundant options for getting medical attention and advice. From internet forums to telemedicine, patients are no longer willing to stay in waiting rooms to get the personalised medical care they need.
With all these options, patients are more engaged than ever before about their health. With the rise of the internet, people have access to an almost endless selection of healthcare practices, each with its unique patient care offering. This is where healthcare practices must ramp up their patient engagement mechanisms to deliver a better healthcare experience for their patients.
Studies show that engaged patients are more likely to have their medical needs addressed by a medical professional. This translates to increased vaccinations or immunisations, regular check-ups, and diagnostic tests to identify and treat illnesses without delay.
This is why healthcare practices must renew their focus on patient engagement. The more engaged your patients are, the better quality of life they will have.
So, here’s how healthcare practices can improve patient engagement.
#1: Patient reviews can help more patients find your practice
Reviews are how patients discover your practice. When they find out how other people have benefitted from your services, they’re more likely to trust you and establish a long-term relationship with you.
Aside from attracting new patients, your existing patients will also feel that you’re paying attention to them and their experience when you address issues raised in reviews.
This means that they’re more likely to be engaged with your practice in the long run because you show you’re actively listening to them and making an effort to ensure that they have a better experience at their next visit.
This is why healthcare practices must collect patient reviews. They’re crucial to show patients that you possess the necessary skills and expertise to help them.
They also show you’re not just committed to getting more patients through the door but are also dedicated to providing high-quality healthcare services.
#2: Leverage social media and keep patients informed about your services
Everyone’s on social media these days—whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or on the infinite number of other apps available.
With more than 50% of the world’s population using social media, it’s safe to say that social media is one of the best ways to engage people.
A recent study conducted in the USA showed that 60% of people using social media trust posts shared by doctors over any other occupational group.
Medical professionals can use this opportunity to spread the word about their practice and reach more patients with their healthcare services.
By interacting and engaging with your patients on social media platforms and sharing informative content, you can establish a healthy relationship with your patients, which will make you more trustworthy to them.
You can also go one step further and share specialised content that targets a specific group of people. For instance, you can share posts, articles, and other information about the importance of paediatric care on Children’s Day or women’s health issues on Women’s Day.
#3: Create an engaging website for your healthcare practice
Remember the last time you visited a website only to be frustrated by its layout and a lack of navigability, and you looked elsewhere for what you needed? The same happens with healthcare practices as well.
It’s not just about having a functional website. Your website must offer the complete package when it comes to patient engagement.
From descriptive service pages to videos and insights, patients are attracted to healthcare practices that provide informative content and are updated on the latest trends in the medical industry.
Keep in mind that patients today have more resources and several options to choose from. Healthcare practices must highlight the plethora of benefits they offer and how they provide the best healthcare services.
An additional point to keep in mind is that people use more mobile devices today than before. This means that websites must be compatible with mobile devices to increase accessibility and keep your patients engaged.
#4: Improve patient knowledge and understanding through dedicated assets
Today we’re living in the information age, and patients are more knowledgeable about their health than ever before.
Healthcare practices that engage patients with not only informative content but also demographic content—in that it targets the right demography—through blogs, ebooks, and videos are more likely to engage patients.
By using your social media platforms or your website, you can help patients understand their illnesses, creating more trust and dependability and leading to active engagement.
Creating meaningful engagement to help more patients
When it comes to healthcare, patients want to get the best medical services from the best healthcare practitioners.
Having continuous engagement with patients helps healthcare practices provide better care, and the available data confirms this as it has been shown that engaged patients actively seek out medical services and get the help they need at the right time.