It is undeniable that the COVID-19 pandemic has permanently changed the American healthcare system. Many patients have struggled to receive adequate access to care in the last few years. No wonder there is an overwhelming sense of doubt felt with relation to the healthcare field. As a result, healthcare workers must create more accessible and empathetic care to regain the trust of those in need.
What kinds of changes will be made going into 2022? Here are some predictions:
Patient Experience Trends of 2022
Virtual Care Solutions
Lacking access to the preventive and curative care they need has led patients to seek outside solutions. Patients who distrust the healthcare industry have limited healthcare knowledge. Moreover, they cannot afford to pay for the care out-of-pocket, or cannot obtain necessary medical appointments. So, it’s natural that they look to the internet for advice. Getting advice from individuals who have neither the credentials nor the expertise is dangerous. It can make patients ignore the real issues and treat an inaccurate illness, which could harm them further.
To reduce the number of barriers to healthcare access, several medical providers are offering care in virtual settings. Patients can now schedule video or telephone health meetings with their physicians and maintain contact via email. This helps patients who may have debilitating concerns about visiting a doctor’s office physically. Virtual contact points further maximize appointments for patients with limited traveling capacity.
Moreover, online healthcare is generally more cost-effective for both doctors and patients in terms of staff and infrastructure costs. This is why online care increases patient loyalty and trust.
The triage unit of medical care has benefitted exceptionally from online communication. It has allowed patients to have their aftercare questions or concerns addressed immediately. It has also enabled medical professionals to streamline their processes of future care. In upcoming months, the online patient care will help multiple medical providers stay up-to-date with their patients’ overall care.
In 2022, niche medicine sectors may become more accessible as online care grows. This would increase access to the care that many patients require quickly, safely, and efficiently.
Greater Emphasis on Empathetic Communication
Practicing empathetic listening skills is essential in all relationships. But, patient-provider relationships particularly benefit from them as they build a bond of trust and comfort. When patients feel that their doctors understand their thoughts, needs, and concerns, they are more likely to return to their doctors later. Yet, if a patient’s experience is poor because they feel overlooked, they may distrust their doctor, medical office, or the entire healthcare field. Ultimately, this disadvantages patients, potentially leading them to self-diagnose or ignore their medical care altogether.
By offering accurate and valuable feedback that addresses the needs of individual patients, providers can maintain the positive relationships that they have with patients and keep them coming back. Patients see preventative healthcare as a more reasonable option for themselves when healthcare providers showcase compassion. Generally speaking, this leads patients to be more healthy because they undergo regularly-scheduled examinations rather than only seeking curative care.
Healthcare industry has also changed its approach towards addressing mental health. Mental health has been a taboo for decades. Mental health issues were neglected and disregarded. Yet, today there is a growing acceptance for discussions centered around behavioral health. These conversations will reduce the stigma surrounding mental healthcare and aid patients in their treatment pursuits. When options such as counseling, group therapy, psychiatry, and life coaching are normalized, patients will feel that these treatment methods may be helpful rather than focusing on the negative social consequences of obtaining outside help.
Safeguards to Online Patient Information
With much medical communication taking place online lately, it is more important than ever for patients to have their private data stored securely. Many medical practices that provide patients access to their providers and personal medical information online have established safekeeping measures. However, there will continue to be a constant need to stay ahead of potential hackers in order to maintain trust and safety. Patients need access to appointment reminders, clinicians, and prescription information without worrying about having their private information exposed or exploited. As online healthcare expands, creating more flexibility for patients, healthcare programmers must create easy-to-navigate yet difficult-to-hack databases and websites.
Conclusion
Overall, 2022 will prove to be a year focused on the value-based care of patients. Providers at every level of healthcare must be in-tune with the needs of their patients and be willing to acknowledge both the physical and emotional feelings of patients. Adjusting to the new demands of patients will allow the healthcare industry to redeem the trust they may have lost with many patients. In 2022, providers and patients ought to create healthy relationships in which patients’ needs are continuously prioritized.
How Denefits Can Help
One way providers can meet patients’ needs is by offering guaranteed customer financing through a company such as Denefits. While online appointments may provide a less costly alternative to traditional in-person meetings, medical procedures and copayments will remain expensive throughout the foreseeable future. By providing healthcare financing for patients who cannot afford to pay for their care upfront with a single payment, Denefits gives patients the ability to have financially-favorable healthcare experiences with the providers they know and trust. The ability to access affordable healthcare by breaking down bills into payment plans without fees enables patients to live healthier and happier lives.
Denefits provides a 100% acceptance rate of applicants seeking to create payment plans with their medical providers, meaning that everybody qualifies to finance better health. This is because Denefits does not check the credit of patients. Check out the Denefits website today and request a callback to find out how you can benefit from the ability to create a payment plan with us!
