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What is a Digital Front Door?

Tuesday, July 19th, 2022

Patient engagement is a growing concern in today’s healthcare ecosystem. As many providers transitioned to telehealth during the pandemic, the concept of a “digital front door” evolved to describe how patients interact digitally with healthcare providers.

digital front door

Definition

The term “digital front door” describes an omnichannel engagement strategy that leverages technology to meet the needs of modern healthcare consumers.

With many people using online searches and digital tools to find new care providers, the term describes how patients first interact with a healthcare provider online. It represents how the patient journey is changing in response to consumer needs.

Just a few years ago, the design of a medical office was considered extremely important to the patient’s experience. Focusing on the digital front door refers to creating a positive digital experience for patients navigating a healthcare provider’s website, patient portals, and other online touchpoints.

Why utilize a digital front door?

There are many reasons to optimize the digital experience. Changing consumer preferences, healthcare staffing issues, and potential cost savings are just a few reasons healthcare practices are turning to digital solutions.

According to a study from Cedar, 41% of patients reported that they would consider changing providers for a better digital experience. Younger adults are four times more likely to switch than those over 65. Making it easy for people to schedule appointments, check symptoms, and refill prescriptions online can increase patient satisfaction and retention.

In addition, the ongoing healthcare staffing shortage is making it difficult for staff to spend time engaging with patients. Implementing digital engagement tools can empower patients to take control of their healthcare tasks and relieve operational burdens on staff members.

The prevalence of electronic health records means that patients can access, read, and add to their records through a well-designed patient portal. Using online intake forms, email messaging, and surveys can streamline processes and save time and money for healthcare practices.

The Benefits of Digital Front Doors

Some of the key benefits of properly designed and implemented digital front doors include:

  • Reduced patient wait times
  • Ability to interact with the healthcare system outside of regular business hours
  • Improved access and visibility into patient’s health records
  • Less paperwork and administrative waste
  • Reduced administrative costs
  • Focus on providing quality care compared to administrative tasks
  • Improved coordination and transparency between care teams
  • Improved feedback collection processes

What types of technology are involved?

No one specific technology is required to create an effective digital front door. Instead, different technologies are combined to create a positive user experience that matches the patient journey and meets the organization’s needs. Some of the technologies typically involved include:

  • Chatbots
  • Online appointment scheduling
  • Physician finder tools
  • Online intake forms
  • Personalized and automated email communications
  • Secure texting
  • Patient portals
  • Automated surveys

Of course, it’s not just about the technology involved but how it works together to meet the patient’s needs. Implementing tools that are difficult to use, don’t integrate, and are frustrating to patients will not deliver results.

An Example

Let’s use an example to illustrate how patients interact with a digital front door. Josh just moved to the area and is looking for a new primary care provider that accepts his insurance and is close to where he lives. He does a Google search and finds a provider with good reviews located only 0.5 miles away.

Josh goes to their website and uses a physician finder tool to search through the provider’s network of physicians to find one who accepts his insurance and is taking new patients.

Once Josh finds someone who is a good fit, he signs up to be a new patient and fills out a digital intake form. On the website’s back end, the provider automatically captures and stores these details in a secure, HIPAA-compliant database.

Josh then schedules an appointment online. He receives an automatic confirmation email, and a few days before the appointment, he also receives an email reminder.

On the day of his appointment, Josh can immediately see his physician because he has already filled out the intake forms online. The physician takes notes electronically during the appointment and refills Josh’s prescription. All this information is automatically added to his medical records. Before leaving the doctor’s office, a staff member helps Josh schedule a follow-up appointment for a few months later.

The same day, Josh receives a text message that his prescription has been filled and is ready for pickup at his local pharmacy. A week after the appointment, Josh receives an email asking about his experience and whether he has any follow-up questions for the physician. Thanks to the thoughtful use of technology, Josh was highly satisfied with his experience.

Conclusion

In today’s world, a solid online presence is not optional. Creating thoughtful online user experiences is essential to improving patient and provider interactions.

Tags: appointment reminders, digital front door, digital transformation, healthcare consumerism, online forms, patient engagement, patient experience
Posted in Business Solutions, Telehealth
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Streamline Operations by Transitioning to Digital Forms

Tuesday, May 31st, 2022

Most healthcare organizations are pursuing digital transformation, but many providers are still reliant on paper forms that need to be printed out, scanned, filed, and securely stored. Shifting to a digital system can streamline operational processes and save time, money, and effort.

digital forms

Why Transition to Digital Forms

There are several reasons to switch to online forms. These include:

  • Having a single, verified source of patient information
  • Making workplace operations more efficient
  • Streamlining tasks such as appointment booking and generating referrals
  • Minimizing spam and other issues that come from using email
  • Enhancing data management processes
  • Cutting back on paper usage and reducing physical secure storage space

Paper forms are easily stolen, destroyed, misplaced, or damaged. A secured digital system saves time and strengthens the organization’s data security posture.

Improve the Patient Check-In Process

Almost every time a patient visits a doctor’s office, they must fill out paper forms. The time the patient spends filling out these forms could be better spent interacting with their health care provider. In addition, the front office staff must organize, file, and store these never-ending documents. Sometimes these forms are scanned and digitally filed.

Why not cut out the extra step and require patients to submit these forms digitally? Before the patient’s appointment, they could fill out and submit these forms in the patient portal. Providers could also use iPads or tablets to have patients digitally submit forms in the office.

This improves efficiency and data management processes while enabling staff to focus on what matters most- providing excellent medical care.

Integrate Digital Forms with Electronic Records

Another benefit of digitizing paper forms is that it is easier to integrate with existing electronic records systems. Using a digital form solution that connects to systems via APIs (like LuxSci’s Secure Form) allows organizations to upload their form data to a secure database. In addition, look for digital form solutions that can be configured to send or save form data wherever the organization designates. Flexibility helps preserve existing workflows and meet documentation requirements.

For example, an organization may utilize multiple online forms that require different storage workflows. Contact forms may be sent to an email inbox for follow-up by office staff, while patient forms should be sent to a secure database or added directly to a patient’s file. Using a flexible digital form streamlines processes for office staff.

LuxSci’s Secure Form lets organizations send data to email addresses, databases, file storage, SFTP, or any webhook-enabled place like Slack. No special software or web hosting changes are required to use it. The Secure Form service turns complex data collection into a simple process.

Ink Signatures

If the paper forms are legal documents, like medical information releases, they should have signature capabilities. Ink signatures enable form users to submit handwritten signatures with a web form. Ink signatures are more legally binding because they prove the user’s identity and intention.

Accordingly, LuxSci’s Secure Form has ink signature capabilities that do not require additional software to install. They are easy for users as well. All they have to do is draw their signatures in the box with their mouse, a stylus, or finger.

The signature is saved as an image file that can be easily stored and secured. See Web Form Signatures: Fast, Easy Method of Informed Consent for more information on ink signatures.

Conclusion

There is no reason to continue using paper forms in today’s digitally enabled world. Transitioning to digital forms improves operational efficiency and data management practices. Interested in getting started? LuxSci’s Secure Form offers the security and flexibility to manage patient-submitted data.

Tags: digital forms, electronic records, form, ink signatures, online forms, operational efficiency, secure form
Posted in Secure Form
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