A healthy medical practice enjoys repeat patients and a growing patient body. Practices that are able to attract new clients and keep them returning – or even giving referrals – are more financially stable, build strong reputations, and put themselves on track to grow and expand over the years. One of the key factors that drives loyalty is patient engagement. Here’s what to know about patient engagement and how to boost these levels in your practice.
What is Patient Engagement?
“Engagement” is a common buzzword, but what does it mean exactly? When we talk about engagement, we’re talking about how much a patient is involved in their own healthcare and how much they want to be. In healthcare, this generally correlates with how well a patient feels heard, understood, looked after, and supported. Practices that focus on delivering a high-quality patient experience will typically have high levels of engagement – although this will vary with the individual, specialization, and demographics.
Why Patient Engagement Matters
Engagement matters more in healthcare than perhaps in any other industry. Patients who are engaged in their own healthcare are more likely to be proactive about taking control of their health, asking questions and making appointments, and adhering to plans and protocols. “Activated” patients tend to have better health outcomes and lower healthcare costs.
Unfortunately, disengaged patients are often those with medical needs that are not being met. Their lack of involvement can create a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes.
Tips for Improving Patient Engagement
Patient engagement is good for your practice – and good for your community. Some of the ways you can get your patients involved include:
- Accessibility. How can patients interact with your practice? Are you using electronic solutions to make appointments, review health records, and stay on top of their treatment recommendations?
- Clear communication. Are you communicating with patients in ways that they can understand? Make sure you’re speaking with people in a clear, jargon-free way, without being patronizing. Clear communication is a significant factor affecting patient engagement.
- Inclusion. Consider potential barriers to care and how you can help break those down. Do you offer multilingual communications or interpreters? Do you have policies that ensure that patients who may need additional assistance can seamlessly navigate care?
- Personalized treatment. Do your patients feel like you know them, their history, and their needs? Providing tailored, individualized care versus one-size-fits-all treatment can help drive engagement.
- Financial options. In the US, the cost of healthcare care remains a barrier for many. Do your patients know their financial options and what kind of additional support they might be eligible for? Do you offer options like claims appeal and prior authorization?
Create an Environment Conducive to Patient Engagement
Many factors drive patient engagement. At Gittleson Zuppas Medical Realty, we can help you with an important one: the look, feel, and location of your practice. If you want to boost accessibility or are ready to reconfigure your practice’s appearance, design, or layout, talk to the team at GZ. We can connect you with the perfect space – so that you can drive patient engagement.