Why we need data: Understanding how healthcare IT improves the patient, provider and payer experience

Manual processes increase the risk that a healthcare organization wastes time, makes mistakes and misses out on potential earnings. They can hinder the patient experience and put a strain on relationships with payers.

These are just a few reasons why some industry leaders invest in the support of healthcare IT. However, of those who use advanced systems and applications, not all are taking advantage of the predictive analytics and insights available.

The key purpose of automated work is to produce faster, better results. This occurs when advanced functions are introduced to an organization’s workflows, but it doesn’t stop there. By learning from the specific metrics and performance reports available in advanced applications, providers can further enhance the treatment experience for themselves, their patients and even for payers.

Here’s a closer look at what happens when healthcare leaders make their workflows data-driven.

Patient satisfaction increases

Delivering a high level of patient satisfaction requires more than medical care. The patient experience begins from the moment an individual schedules their appointment or is admitted. It continues as they interact with admissions, caretakers and billers throughout treatment.

Patient satisfaction may increase or decrease during this time for a variety of reasons. Analyzing data from previous patient interactions positions providers to produce higher levels of satisfaction.

If you were to have your team track care quality levels, infection outbreaks and slips and falls, you’d have a better understanding of the opportunities to increase patient satisfaction as well as safety and treatment success. You could start working proactively to reduce the likelihood of negative experiences and focus your efforts on going above and beyond to exceed expectations.

Providers’ operational efficiency skyrockets

The use of advanced analytics helps you do more for patients as well as your staff. Imagine if your billers could create and send claims in half the time it takes them now. Or if you could better engage and communicate with your entire team.

With the right tools, you can access the data necessary to improve these things, too. Detailed revenue cycle performance reports can identify the most common mistakes your billers make.

Additionally, data on staff attendance can help you cut overtime costs and avoid burnout. Your scheduling program may even have credential tracking capabilities to help your entire staff stay up to date with required education.

Payers enjoy higher quality scores and better member retention

As patients become more engaged in their treatments and providers deliver higher-quality care, payers’ performance improves. Their quality scores go up thanks to the providers who deliver satisfactory data-driven results. Over time, this results in better member retention for payers and patient retention for providers.

Technology and healthcare are continuously becoming more intertwined. They will continue to enhance the patient experience throughout treatment, but only as providers and payers embrace the advanced tools and analytics available to them. This trend goes hand in hand with the rising importance of value-based care.

What is your organization doing to stay ahead of the curve?

Make sure you’re always one step ahead by continuing to grow your knowledge. This blog explains how healthcare IT is improving quality care.

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