How to Create Intake Forms That Improve Patient Experience
A 2011 report by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, found that during the year, there were more than 125 million hospital visits. Given the increases in population and availability of care, that figure surely has gone up significantly since then. And in every visit, one of the more frustrating things for a person is the patient intake form.
If you show up at a practice for the first time and have to fill out a whole host of forms, the patient intake form is one of the most time-consuming, annoying things to deal with. Even if you are a returning patient, the chance that you will have to fill out additional information to supplement your previous forms can make for an extra hassle.
That’s why more and more practices are focusing on their patient intake processes. There are dozens of ways that you can easily improve patient intake without decreasing the amount of information that you receive. In addition, improving your processes will surely be appreciated by the patients you see on a regular basis. An online patient intake form offers both patients and practices the chance to have solutions in multiple areas. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits.
The Benefits of A Seamless Patient Intake Process
Accuracy
Having the patient intake form moved to a digital format improves accuracy because it gives patients the opportunity to fill them out at home before they even get in the car and visit your office. This is beneficial in a number of ways:
- Allows your patients to fill out their information at their own pace without feeling rushed.
- Provides your clients with digital intake forms allows them to fill them out using legible, easy-to-read letters instead of bad handwriting.
- Allows submissions to a central server.
This means you can track important paperwork without it getting lost or misplaced during the traditional filing process. Digital intake forms also prevent your staff members from having to transcribe written documents into an electronic health record. Allowing your team to work on other, more pressing matters.
Workflow
Transitioning to digital intake forms also increases efficiency and improves workflow at your office. When your front office staff is able to focus on making sure your patients are seen in an efficient, timely manner instead of putting away reams of forms into folders and then into different cabinets, it lessens the pressure that they are under as well. Think about it. How many times do you have to wait for one of your staff members to locate an important file? At least once every week, right? Having your records done digitally allows for easier searching and allocation. That means fewer headaches, less confusion, improved efficiency at your practice and happier customers. It’s a win-win-win for everyone involved.
Satisfaction
Going to the doctor can be a stressful experience. After all, nobody wants to get sick, and if they are sick, they don’t want to have to worry about waiting for hours to see the doctor. When your intake process is easy and hassle-free, it ensures your client’s needs are met. And, when they’re needs are met, they’re more likely to refer you and your practice to friends and family members. Simply stated, transitioning to digital intake forms has a ripple effect.
A digital intake process does not have to be complicated. The best tools for ambulatory clinics and urgent care settings send each new patient a simple link, so they can register for their visit electronically instead of on paper, from any computer or phone.
Look for a tool that lets patients enter their demographics, insurance, medical history and how they are feeling that day, and lets your staff import it in a few clicks instead of retyping it. Medication matching, allergy flags and the ability to edit after the visit save even more time.
Get Help Creating Your Optimized Intake Forms
Our commitment to new technologies is one of the reasons we’ve been in business for nearly four decades: We make sure that you get excellent service. Whether it’s a small practice or a larger provider, we provide scalable solutions for everything from revenue cycle management to credentialing, and from medical billing to electronic health records. Get in touch with us today and find out how we can make your practice’s workflow go smoother than ever before.
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