At the beginning of 2020, we had healthcare in a rhythm. You could approach almost every visit to a healthcare facility with certainty. You would make an appointment, visit in person, and if necessary, tests would usually be run. In March, everything changed, and expectations shifted immediately. For public safety, any visit that could be remote, was. Telemedicine, long a blip on the consciousness of health IT and considered nice to have, suddenly became mandatory. Many healthcare centers quickly shifted into a telemedicine model to ensure they could continue to provide the care patients need and expect. Doctor’s visits, triage consultations—even therapy sessions—via video chat soon replaced in-person visits, ensuring uninterrupted medical care for patients from the security of their own homes. This rapid shift came with growing pains that are still being felt—and will continue to be felt—in the coming year.
But not all solutions are created equal. Patients expect a connection to be seamless. They expect all aspects of the process to be private and secure. They want to log into the platform and to have things work without unexpected issues. They want it to feel natural. Their visit no longer begins when they walk through your door and ends when they leave. It’s much more interconnected, and there are ways you can provide that experience consistently.
If you get it right, you can see huge advantages.
Reduced No-Shows
The right solution can send reminders either through SMS or chat that request confirmation. When patients affirm their attendance, the likelihood of a no-show goes down. This can save money for the practice and help to reduce the time spent waiting for someone who will not arrive.
Improved Patient Satisfaction
A recent study by JMIR reported that on average, telehealth video visits are rated at 95% satisfaction. This leads to happier patients overall and greater loyalty over time.
Reduced Wait Times
When a doctor participates in telemedicine, the time it takes to prep each patient greatly decreases. No longer do patients wait in a waiting room and then in an examination room. They log on to their visit, talk directly with the doctor, and then go on their way. The rooms no longer need to be sanitized and cleaned between patients, and the doctor can meet with and help more patients in a single day.
Expanded Access to Care
While many patients live near their doctor, not everyone has access to reliable transportation. In fact, the American Hospital Association found that due to transportation issues, 3.6 million Americans forgo medical care. This may be especially true for doctors and specialists whose practices are farther away or are located outside the states where their patients’ live. With telemedicine, the distance is no longer an issue—anyone can have access to care regardless of location or the ability to visit in person.
Better Patient Outcomes
Care doesn’t stop at the door. With the right telemedicine solution, providers follow up with patients even after they finish their visit. Whether that’s appointment reminders, access to test results, or discharge instructions, ease of access makes patients more likely to follow through with requests.
The Right Provider for Seamless Telemedicine
The right solution is key to seeing these benefits and more. But how do you know the solution you’ve chosen provides the benefits you need while keeping patient data secure and ensuring compliance? That’s why Connection partners with Vonage to provide a seamless API-based system.
API-based Communication
An application program interface, or API, is not as complicated as it sounds. It is a tool that allows you to integrate programmable chat, video, and voice, into any application you choose and to connect with your patients. This allows your patients to feel comfortable and connect no matter what communication method they prefer—all on a single, unified platform.
The Vonage API Platform offers:
- Video: live video chat that allows for face-to-face interaction
- Voice: high-quality, scalable, and flexible voice communication with user context and data
- Messaging: MMS, SMS, and social chat apps like What’s App, Facebook Messenger, or Viber
- Authentication: Two-factor authentication that is used to validate an account, ensure security, and prevent fraud
And if you aren’t planning to replace your entire communications system, Vonage APIs can embed these capabilities into your existing platform or system, so legacy operations won’t be disturbed.
Safety and Compliance
Focus on compliance is of the utmost importance to Vonage and Connection. From HIPAA to HITECH, meeting the regulatory standards and protecting patient data is always our goal. And the Vonage solution is designed to help you build apps with compliance and security in mind.
The authentication API, Vonage Verify, encourages patient confidence that their data is in safe hands. You can also trust the Vonage Video API to help you create video apps that fully encrypt all communication and digitally archive patient and practitioner interactions.
Only Pay for What You Use
Many healthcare providers reference cost as preventing them from purchasing new communications technology, but we believe cost shouldn’t stand in the way of the right solution. With the API-based Vonage Communication Platform, you only pay for what you use. This means you get the platform you want without paying for services you don’t need.
Getting Started
Do not wait to get the solution you need. This year has shown that, now more than ever, preparedness will be key to continuing to provide services to customers, patients, and partners during these challenging times. Connection and Vonage in partnership have helped many healthcare organizations implement a seamless telemedicine solution so they can more easily connect with their patients and improve outcomes. It’s easier than ever to reinvent how you communicate. Contact Connection today, and we’ll help you get started on your journey to a better telemedicine experience.
Brian Gilman
Spending more than a decade building solutions-based marketing functions, Brian has a proven record of success in developing and implementing strategic B2B marketing plans and engaging in high-touch sales activities within the communications and collaboration markets. In addition to his marketing experience, Brian has also produced more than 1,000 pages of telecom research that has been highlighted by the U.S. Internet Council, Business 2.0, and Exploration and Production—Oil and Gas Review. Brian holds a BA in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
