5 Types of Technology That Improve Patient Satisfaction

Whether you're heading to a regular doctor's appointment or have to go to the emergency room, chances are that spending time in a medical facility isn't your favorite part of your day. Luckily, many medical facilities are looking to use technology to improve patient satisfaction. From streamlining intake to keeping you entertained, a variety of technological updates are taking over medical facilities.

1. Bedside Tablets

When you're in the emergency room or have been admitted to the hospital, time seems to pass more slowly. Often, the televisions in hospitals have limited channels, and if the patients didn't expect to be in the hospital for long, they may not have a charger for their phone. Some hospitals are remedying the problem of boredom in the hospital by offering bedside tablets. 

Bedside tablets are helpful in a number of ways. When it comes to entertainment, the tablets are preloaded with plenty of games for the patients to try their hands at. Tablets also make things more convenient for patients and nurses because they can be set up to allow the patient to order meals from the cafeteria. Finally, tablets offer education. Many hospitals use tablets to provide patients with education regarding their diagnoses and treatment plans.

2. Help Desk Options

Help desk software is helpful for nurses while providing patient satisfaction. This type of software can use in a variety of ways. It allows you to automate certain types of administrative tasks and can increase productivity since your team of nurses can spend more time focusing on the patient's needs. A good program will also give nurses a detailed overview of patients, which ensues the nurse understands their patients and what their needs may be. The right software can even personalize the patient support experience by connecting with other apps to create a more robust experience.

3. Appointment Scheduling Systems

Few people enjoy spending time on the phone making appointments. Additionally, when staff in a doctor's office are spending all their time on the phone, it can be harder to complete other tasks that need to be done. Appointment scheduling systems make life a little easier for patients and medical staff alike. Online appointment scheduling can be done using a variety of ways, whether via the internet or via an application. In addition to scheduling appointments, most places that use online systems also allow patients to cancel or reschedule appointments as well as check in virtually when they are arriving for their appointments. 

4. Access To Information

Many medical facilities now have an online system that allows patients to access a range of information about their care. They can look at the notes that their medical professionals made after their appointments; read their own results on labs, X-rays, or other medical procedures; check their list of medications and request refills, and even e-mail their medical team about any questions or concerns. Some systems even allow patients to access their referral letters on the system.

5. Patient Intake Kiosks

If you've ever been to the emergency room, you know it often takes a long time for the registration professional to come into the room and take down your personal information and insurance information. Some medical facilities are trying to bypass that registration step altogether by installing patient intake kiosks. These kiosks are set up in the hospital's waiting rooms and allow the patient to enter their own information while they wait to be called back. Even some doctors' and specialists' offices are installing these kiosks in their waiting rooms. 

Whether you're using one of the new patient intake kiosks or have access to a bedside tablet, chances are that you've already used some of the technological updates that medical facilities are installing. If not, you probably will be soon, and they're almost guaranteed to make you have a better experience as a patient. 

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