Patient Recall Messaging Software: What Is It And Why You Should Use One?
Patient recall messages (PRM) are essential tools that healthcare organizations and professionals can use to improve patient healthcare. They’re also effective at enhancing patient management to administer optimum care.
PRMs are short, written communications sent directly to patients after they leave the hospital or clinic. The goal is to remind them to follow through on their treatment plan to prevent future problems. Many clinics and practitioners nowadays find PRMs helpful in reducing readmission and increasing compliance rates of patients from across practices.
Suppose you’re looking into starting using PRM software. Here are some things to know before implementing them into your practice.
What Are Patient Recall Messaging Software?
A patient recall messaging software is an automated system designed to send out a message or update to patients who have left the healthcare facility. It could be text messages, phone calls, emails, letters, or even social media posts.
There are many different types of patient recall messaging systems available today. Some are free, while others require an annual subscription fee. There are also several different platforms for each type of messaging solution.
Some examples of patient recall messaging software include:
- Phone Call: Patients can receive a phone call from a healthcare facility to remind them about upcoming appointments or aftercare do’s and don’ts.
- Text Messaging: SMS or MMS messages are sent via mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Sending such messages can be easy and convenient.
- Email: Updates or reminders could also be sent to patients’ email addresses. While there’s an increase in online platform usage among patients, there could be delays when sending messages if there are Internet connection issues.
Since most programs offer automation features, the process of contacting a patient to give information on their follow-up appointment and other instructional cues can be streamlined, making it more efficient.
Why Do Healthcare Organizations Need PRM Software?
In a nutshell, healthcare innovations such as PRM software can boost communication between healthcare professionals and their patients. This can go a long way in ensuring a smooth recovery for patients, especially since they can be well-informed about what’s going on with their care and the next steps.
Furthermore, you can also use PRMs for other purposes, including:
- Reminding patients to schedule follow-up appointments
- Providing reminders about upcoming procedures
- Notifying patients about important events
- Sharing important news about your organization
Why Are Patient Recall Messages Important?
Implementing efficient PRM software in your practice comes with a lot of benefits. Here are a few of them:
1. Improve Treatment Compliance Rates
According to the Department of Health & Human Services, high rates of hospital admissions are due to noncompliance with prescribed treatments. PRMs can help patients achieve higher compliance rates by receiving regular reminders from their care providers.
In addition, patients are also less prone to no-show or to forget their appointments when they receive a message reminding them about their upcoming consultation or session with their healthcare provider. And so, with such a system, you can ensure that patients are well-attended and on a good path to recovery.
2. Reduce Complications During Transitions Or Changes In Treatment
When patients are informed about any change or update in their healthcare or treatment plan, they’re likely to feel more prepared for the transition. During this time, they can even raise queries or ask questions that could prevent potential problems. As a result, you can reduce the number of complications during transitions and changes.
For example, if a patient is scheduled to undergo surgery, they might ask whether there’s anything else they need to do before the procedure. When you communicate with patients via PRMs, you can ensure they understand their treatment plans. If they do not, you can quickly identify any issues and address them before they become serious.
3. Increase Patient Care Satisfaction
Another reason why you should use PRMs is that they help boost patient care satisfaction. When you communicate with your patients using PRMs, you can ensure that they understand what is going on in their treatment and aftercare, making them feel more connected to their health care team. And perhaps, this is one of the best ways you can make them more comfortable and gain their trust.
This is especially true when you send patient messages at the right time. For example, if they’ve recently undergone surgery, you can send regular messages to give them reminders about their post-op care. On the other hand, if you want to remind patients about an upcoming procedure and instruct some do’s and don’ts, you can send them a message two weeks before the surgery date.
4. Help Your Practice Grow
PRMs can also help you grow your practice in many ways. By regularly communicating with your patients, not only do you keep them updated on important information regarding their care, but you also get to build rapport and professional relationships with them. This can go a long way in helping you build a community around your practice. This is especially true since well-cared patients are likely to refer you to their friends and family.
In addition, sending regular messages and updates through PRM software can give the impression that a healthcare facility is professional and organized. This can boost the credibility and reputation of a clinic, as well as the healthcare professionals.
5. Enhance Customer Service
Lastly, aside from offering optimum healthcare to patients, PRMs can also help boost a healthcare facility’s customer service. With constant communication with patients, a medical team can be in a better position to know and understand their concerns. And as a result, your staff will be able to respond faster and offer better customer service to ensure their needs are met.
After all, communication is one of the essential keys to improving patient recovery. And one of the best ways to ensure their treatments go smoothly and they’re getting the care they deserve is by engaging with your patients once in a while.
How Can I Get Started?
Getting started with patient recall messaging software doesn’t have to be difficult. However, to truly maximize its benefits, it’s essential that you choose the right PRM software to aid you in administering the best healthcare service to your patients.
With that, here are some things to consider when selecting a platform:
- Platform Type
One of the first things you should decide is whether you want to use a web-based or desktop application. Essentially, web-based applications are easy to set up and operate, especially since they’re hosted by an online server. However, if the network is down or experiencing connection issues, software running on an online platform may not be usable. On the other hand, desktop applications could offer more flexibility but can be limited in terms of storage options.
- Features Of The PRM Software
You also need to determine which features you need most. Are you looking for a simple system that sends text messages? Or do you need a full-featured solution that includes scheduling, appointment reminders, and more?
To help you start, here are some essential features you can check when looking for reliable PRM software:
- Data Storage: If you only need to store the basic contact information of patients, then you may not need a high-end solution. However, if you’re a large healthcare facility servicing thousands of patients, it may be wise to opt for platforms offering more storage options.
- Data Security: In today’s modern world, data privacy is one of the critical aspects every organization should ensure. This is especially true since, in the healthcare industry, you’re handling confidential patient data. It’s, therefore, crucial to ensure that the platform you’re looking to use offers robust security measures to prevent data breaches and loss.
- Integration With Other Systems: To further streamline your internal processes, it’s recommended to have PRM software that seamlessly integrates with other systems, such as email or marketing tools.
- The Software’s Customer Support: While technological innovations such as this can be beneficial, it’d be worth noting that they can also be prone to technical difficulties that can disrupt your healthcare and patient management operations. In such a case, the customer support of the PRM software you should get should be reliable. That way, you can reduce downtime and quickly resume attending to your patients’ needs. However, if they take too long to answer your calls or resolve the issue, then you should look elsewhere.
- Cost
Finally, you need to consider how much money you’re willing to shell out and spend on PRM software. To make the most out of this significant investment, you can opt for a free trial before making a purchase. That way, you can test it out first and assess whether it’s the right software for your team.
It’s also recommended to carefully assess the features of each software to determine which program can give you the best value for your money.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, many benefits are associated with using a PRM. If you are looking for a solution that will allow you to communicate with your patients and increase your productivity easily, investing in reliable PRM software can surely go a long way.
