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In the evolving landscape of healthcare, providing an exceptional patient experience is paramount. Patients today are more engaged in their health, seeking services that not only cater to their medical needs but also align with their preferences and convenience. When it comes to Radiology, eReferral solutions and online booking systems have emerged as pivotal tools in transforming to a patient centric journey. In this blog post, we delve into the ways these technologies are reshaping radiology and how practices can stand out while nurturing relationships with both referrers and patients in the age of technology driven care.

The Changing Patient Decision-Making Process:
The healthcare landscape is evolving, with patients increasingly taking charge of their healthcare decisions. The decision-making process relies on a multitude of factors such as previous experiences, location convenience, cost, appointment availability, parking and even their preferred method of communication alongside referrer recommendations. Strong referrer relationships still matter and capturing the referrers choice at the source while creating ease for the patient becomes increasingly crucial. In this era of healthcare, where technology-driven services are on the rise, radiology practices must find new ways to stand out and nurture both referrer relationships and patient experiences.

Adapting to Digitization:
Telehealth has become a permanent fixture in healthcare, further altering the radiology landscape. Digital consultations present added complexity with paper referrals proving inefficient, emailing poses data security concerns, while faxing and texting referrals can lead to errors or misplaced documents. As the industry shifts toward digitization, radiology practices can look to embrace a patient-centric approach with digital tools to enhance the patient experience. This means reimagining the patient journey from the moment a referral is created to the completion of their radiology appointment to find solutions that offer patients greater convenience.

The Power of eReferrals:
eReferral systems, such as the one offered by Kestral, are changing the game. After a consultation, whether face to face or via Telehealth, the referral is created electronically and immediately sent to the preferred radiology provider. This streamlined process ensures that referrals are captured immediately, providing the preferred practice with an advantage to secure the patient's appointment. In a telehealth situation, this eliminates the need for patients to collect physical referrals. Patients can receive a call or text message with the next available appointment within minutes of leaving the referrer and a copy of their referral, making the process effortless. If the appointment time doesn't suit the patient, they can easily reschedule to a time and location that better fits their needs.

Online Booking for Convenience:
When combined with Online Bookings, eReferrals become even more powerful. Online bookings target hard copy referrals. With a click of a button the patient can fill out their contact details, securely add a copy of their referral and reserve a preferred appointment time. This is completely customisable to ensure the type of appointment can be vetted to ensure it is booked within the appropriate parameters of each resource. This seamless process reduces administrative overhead and enhances patient satisfaction while reducing phone waiting times, allowing bookings out of office hours; empowering patients to book on their terms.

Specialty Bookings Made Easy:
eReferrals are particularly beneficial for specialty bookings, such as MRI or biopsy appointments. Referrals sent directly to booking staff lead to fewer errors due to incorrect bookings or preparation. Patients receive accurate cost estimates, and necessary preparations can be organized accurately. This streamlined process ensures that patients get the care they need faster, with less administrative hassle.

A Greener, More Personalized Service:
With eReferrals, legibility and accuracy are significantly improved, eliminating the challenges associated with handwritten or faxed referrals. This patient-centric approach reduces paper waste and minimizes the environmental impact.

Embracing a patient centric approach:
In a world where patients have more control over their healthcare decisions than ever before, radiology practices must adapt. Embracing eReferrals and online booking systems not only streamline processes but also enhances the patient experience. By capturing referrals at the source and providing a seamless, patient-centric journey, radiology practices can differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape and maintain strong referrer relationships. In the age of digitization, these technological innovations are key to shaping the future of radiology and ensuring both patients and referrers are catered for. To learn more about our patient centric solutions contact us at enquiries@kestral.com.au.