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CASE STUDY—Websites for Patients
Clinic Websites Give Patients
the Information They Seek
| The challenge— |
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The solution— |
| Now more than
ever, patients are playing active roles in their own healthcare.
They want easy access to health information, which poses the
question, "How do they get it?" |
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The answer is
the Web. Doctors' offices are creating websites chock full
of information for their patients, giving them easy access
to pertinent information. |
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Gone are the days when people didn't take it upon themselves to
learn more about their health. Today, patients want information
and they want it fast.
We know that 111 million adults have looked for healthcare information
on the Web. It represents the growing trend of patients researching
on their own in addition to seeing their physicians. The good news
is physicians recognize this trend and are giving patients what
they want: clinic websites full of valuable patient information.
"Patient education is an important focus of our clinic,"
says Robin Monogue, practice manager at Northern Rockies Orthopedic
in Missoula, Montana (www.orthopaedic.com).
"Our patients tend to use the Web. They want information and
it's right there for them."
Patient education comes in the form of question and answers, easy-to-understand
text, links to other sites or detailed illustrations. Research suggests
that patients who are educated about healthcare and upcoming surgeries
recover faster and stay healthier longer. Information lets patients
know what to expect, giving them the opportunity to focus on becoming
healthy rather than getting bogged down in unknowns.
PCs and web connections throughout a practice are becoming more
common in disseminating patient information. Julie Liles, practice
manager at Orthopedic Specialists of Gastonia, North Carolina (www.orthogastonia.com)
explains, "We have PCs in the lobby and in three exam rooms
so we can pull up our online patient education in the clinic and
encourage patients to browse it at home."
Patient education isn't the only patient benefit. By putting forms
and insurance information online, patients don't have to show up
15 minutes early just to get in the system. The processes are smoother
and quicker for the patient and the clinic.
"People like the ability to fill out forms and fax them in,"
says Monogue. "In fact, we want to take it a step further.
Our plan is to allow patients to fill out forms directly online
and check their appointment or even cancel it within a certain time
frame." This is all part of their greater goal to offer patients
more flexibility via their website and streamline the doctor/patient
relationship.
If you’ve seen a doctor, you’ve been on hold with the
doctor’s office. Clinic websites are taking patients off hold
and putting information at their fingertips.
To view clinic websites in action, visit Ortho eMD by Pyron Technologies
at www.orthoemd.com.
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