A good medical practice is not only involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patients’ illnesses, it’s also involved in patient education, reminding patients to take an active role in their own medical care.
From Diagnosis to Active Participation
When a patient walks into a medical office, he may have a chronic health condition or an acute medical situation that requires attention. While you can diagnose and treat these as a medical professional, to a large degree the patient is responsible for managing that treatment. A diabetic patient needs to remember to manage his diet and take his medication. Even those with more temporary illnesses need to visit the pharmacy to collect medication and use it correctly or may need to go home and rest in bed. As medical professionals, you are only one part of a patient’s care, and it’s critically important that the patient understands his or her role in helping to heal from or manage acute and chronic illnesses.
Teaching Patients About Medical Options
As a medical professional, you are also responsible for talking to patients about medical options. Often, patients rely on you to know what paths are out there to pursue, or they may visit you with a question about an alternative treatment. By discussing the pros and cons of these treatments with patients, you build patients’ knowledge and trust and help them choose the right treatment path.
Practice Management Software Can Help You Manage Patient Education
Your practice management program can be a vital tool for patient education. This software allows you to track many types of patient information, including basics such as the patient’s address and more complex information such as past diagnoses and treatments. It also has the ability to prompt you to ask patients questions when they check in or book an appointment.
You know that patients who are approaching a specific age may need certain routine tests such as a mammogram or prostate checkup. Also, patients need reminders about seasonal health care needs such as flu shots. The best way to seamlessly incorporate preventative care is by creating a patient portal for patients to take these initiatives themselves. These help your patients maintain good health and help you see more success in preventing, managing, and treating illnesses. If a patient has a chronic health condition, it’s even more important that they stay on top of regular checkups and tests, such as an A1C test for diabetic patients. Prompts help you remind patients to schedule tests, follow ups, and preventative services, and these regular and routine tests give you and your patients valuable information about their health that they can use to make educated decisions about their future care.
As a medical provider, you want to provide excellent health care and the best outcomes possible for your patients. Part of this process involves reminding patients to take charge of their health care management. If you’re trying to build a constructive and instructive relationship with your patients, project management software can help. Contact PracticeSuite today to see how a trial version could benefit your medical office management.
