Caring for patients doesn’t end after they are discharged. In fact, being able to identify those patients in need of follow up support has many benefits for both the patient and your healthcare facility. Here are some reasons why this is essential and how you can support this transition seamlessly.
Follow Up Support Can Clear Up Patient Misunderstandings
Whether it be about post-discharge orders or medications, there are some patients who may still not understand what they need to do to continue the healing process. Not only can this affect the patient, but it can lead to a negative feeling towards the facility because they aren’t sure how to proceed.
However, by sending out a post-discharge survey, you can gain valuable insight into what your patient needs. This can help you determine whether or not the patient is in need of follow up support in some way.
Following Up With Patients Reduces Readmissions
Checking in with your patients post-discharge can help you determine whether or not they still need additional care. By asking for routine information on how the patient is feeling, you can determine if additional support is needed.
Our Wellness Outreach Application makes it easy to check in with patients via text. Because 98% of text messages are opened, this is an effective way to quickly check-in with patients and determine if they are in need of health care support.
The Patient Can Know What To Look For
In order to identify which patients need additional care, the patient needs to know when and how to contact. The best way to make this process as seamless as possible is by providing the patient with specific information about their post-discharge care. For example, this may include:
- What to look out for
- Who to contact in case they need follow up assistance
- The person who will be responsible for follow up care
- When they should expect to make another appointment (if necessary)
By making sure the patient is as informed as possible, you can prevent any misunderstandings. Additionally, this makes it easier to identify who may need follow up support because the patient knows what to look out for and when to make that call.
At Notivate, we know that giving the patient the ability to communicate is essential to a better healthcare experience. This is why we provide secure chat features that are HIPAA-compliant so patients can speak with their providers quickly and efficiently. This real-time chatting ability makes it easy for patients to get the follow up support they need when they need it.
Other Ways To Determine If A Patient Needs Follow Up Support
Determining whether or not a patient needs post-discharge support is all about asking the right questions at the right time. For example, sending a post-discharge survey after they leave the hospital and (ideally) 3 hours later can help you catch problems before they happen.
Additionally, speaking directly to the patient can help you identify whether they need support. AHRQ explains that you can do this through a phone call, secure email, postal mail, or texting. The more a patient feels like their care is a priority, the more likely they are to reach out if they need support.
There are many factors that come into play when determining whether a patient needs follow up care. However, the best way to do this is by being direct with the patient. The more informed they are about the post-discharge procedures, the easier it will be for them to communicate any problems or pain they have.
Looking For More Information?
Here at Notivate, we know that an informed patient is a happy patient. Whether you want to learn information about a patient’s visit, share results with them, set follow up appointments, or complete other tasks that keep your practice running, we want to help. Request a demo today to see how our platform can benefit your facility.
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