Electronic Health Reporter

When running a business, it’s integral to follow the adage, “adapt or face extinction.” Yet, many private practice owners and practitioners are still doing the same things they did a decade ago.

The world is changing quickly, and the medical industry is no exception. The next generation of patients has vastly different priorities than previous generations, meaning practitioners will have to adapt or run the risk of losing patients to competing practices.

Here are six practical tips for modernizing your medical practice and getting ahead of the curve.

Incorporate Telehealth and Virtual Medicine

One of the biggest shifts in medical practices over the last couple of years is the movement toward telehealth and virtual medicine services. While the world was already trending this way, the global pandemic exponentially fast-tracked the movement. Now, having remote service options is no longer a novelty; it’s a necessity.

If your practice hasn’t already started incorporating permanent remote service options — beyond the stop-gap measures put in place for the pandemic — it’s past time to do so. Consider what tools and process flows are required to streamline this offering and make it more marketable.

Outsource to a Virtual Assistant

Remote work is another area that was already trending upward and experienced an overnight explosion during the pandemic. The fortunate side of this paradigm shift is that many practitioners who were hesitant to engage in this movement were forced to overcome their fears and give it a try.

Hiring specialized healthcare virtual assistants helps modernize a practice in several ways, including:

• Minimizing in-person interaction during outbreaks
• Creating options to delegate and outsource
• Cutting hiring, training, and employment costs
• Increasing efficiency, scalability, and profitability

Working with a virtual assistant goes hand-in-hand with expanding your remote service options. As such, it’s no wonder that working with a virtual assistant has become more commonplace across all industries.

Centralize Your Software and Systems

Moving to remote work has forced many practitioners to rethink their legacy systems. This presents an opportunity to replace outdated programs with more streamlined, centralized options.

Medical practice software has evolved tremendously over the past five years. Cloud technology now makes it easy to complete work from anywhere and centralize everything from scheduling to billing, all on one platform. These upgrades also make it easier to shift to remote services and work with virtual and remote contractors and staff.

Reorganize Your Patient Flow

When was the last time you considered your patient flow? Completing this internal audit is an opportunity to improve your efficiency and increase doctor-to-patient time. As you reevaluate your systems and waiting room layout, it’s integral to revisit this consideration frequently to ensure everything continues to run smoothly.

Consider how you can help your patients triage before booking their appointment, or how they’ll move through the system once they enter the queue. There’s always room for improvement as technology and processes evolve.

Incorporate Holistic and Versatile Health Options

Many practitioners are being challenged to rethink their approach to medicine in the modern world. The Millennial generation grew up with access to the internet, and Gen Z is changing the narrative on holistic health. Trust and empowerment are now top priorities, as are holistic concerns such as sleep, nutrition, and mental health.

In other words, seasoned medical practitioners are being challenged to rethink their entire approach to medicine. Training and branching out will help build trust and the patient experience for a modern take on medicine.

In addition to rethinking patient priorities, it’s also beneficial to reach out to adjacent health service providers to create a one-stop shop for health services. Many GPs are inviting physiotherapists, psychologists, and nutritionists to join the practice with effective results.

Create a Modern Marketing Strategy

Finally, it’s time to rethink how you connect with patients when they aren’t at an appointment. The time between appointments is an opportunity to reach out and provide resources and information that builds trust and loyalty.

Consider how your practice uses email marketing and social media to connect with patients. If there’s nothing currently in place, it’s time to address this missed opportunity.

With these functional tips, you can make your medical practice more modern and serve your patients better.