Patient Engagement
Patients trust ratings on sites such as Healthgrades, Yelp and Zocdoc but both negative and positive reviews alike can be misleading.
Patients prefer appointment reminders via text and practices are obliging, but take care in sending only the needed information and never text PHI, MGMA said.
The core element of the model is that the same physician provides care for patients in the clinic as well as in the hospital.
There's "no perceivable benefit" to patients as the chargemaster "rack rate" is not a reflection of what they'll end up paying, experts say.
Patients have gotten used to certain conveniences and now it's time for healthcare providers to pay attention or risk becoming irrelevant.
Nearly half of study participants revealed that they at times decide not to take their medication.
More patients want to interact with doctors via social media, which opens new opportunities to treat chronic conditions, reduce unneeded visits.
Workable payment plans can't be too burdensome and should take into account FICO score, 90-day payment history and any residual or related income individuals earn.
To combat the reluctance to discuss financial strain, physicians should take the lead in recognizing and "diagnosing" financial strain, the authors recommend.
Burnout can hurt the bottom line, with research showing a consistent relationship between higher levels of physician burnout and lower levels of patient safety and quality of care.