Health

10 Best Tips To Improve Patients Scheduling System

Scheduling patients can be frustrating as you have to strike a balance between meeting your boss’ scheduling requirements and making patients feel comfortable with their appointments. As if that were all, certain unforeseen circumstances could also set you back in the process, making it a necessity for you to get better at your job.

But guess what? The good news is that the scheduling system has become much easier over the years, with over 67% of patients preferring to book online and only 33% craving appointments by phone. You have less work to do now.

For the fact, this article is a great compilation of the things you need to know regarding patients’ scheduling. So, in addition to the best tips for improving the patients’ scheduling system, keep an eye out for a couple of other ideas.

In this article, we will discuss ten tips, three of which are questions that you should respond to with actions, to assist you in enhancing the patient scheduling system at your workplace.

PRIORITIZE PATIENT SCHEDULES

To some people, it may not be breaking news to say that you need to make appointments with your patients a priority, but everyone should be reminded. It’s important to give patients an electronic patient scheduling form so they can make an appointment with you.

The said form should contain a space provider requiring several pieces of information, including the specification of their conditions to allow you to have an idea of the level of care they need. You can demand answers to as many questions as you’d like to get answers to.

If done properly, prioritizing the schedule of your patients can help you discover and fix some issues without having to schedule an appointment.

DOES YOUR CALENDAR SETTINGS NEED ADJUSTMENTS?

Assuming that your scheduling system is online, we recommend that you check and ensure that your calendar settings are properly adjusted.

In order not to end up scheduling a 50-minute appointment into a 35-minute slot, you should pay attention to your software’s settings and have your options intact.

ARE YOU DOUBLE-BOOKING APPOINTMENTS?

One question to ask yourself is whether the team you work with practices double-booking or even triple-booking appointments. If the answer is yes, then you have to consider the downside of this scheduling pattern.

It can appear good to you or the boss you work under to keep patients waiting for as long as an hour or more and fetch them as soon as you are free, but the negative impact this practice could have on your brand is also huge.

Some patients will go as far as making bad reviews of your brand on Google, thereby reducing the reputation of your organization.

GROUP PATIENTS FOR APPOINTMENTS

When a doctor has to handle patients in need of different services, classifying them into various groups based on their needs is advisable.

Practicing cluster scheduling can be a very effective approach to improving the appointment system, as you will be able to attend to more people in a short amount of time.

DEPLOY APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING SOFTWARE

The team behind the patient scheduling system in your clinic will perform better when they have the whole job streamlined so that they won’t have to bother with reminding, rescheduling, or confirming appointments manually.

The world is already advanced and is more digitally based. No one would argue that one of the beauties of this, nonetheless, is the ease of getting things done. It is the reason a larger number of people prefer to work from home.

Since this remains the choice of many and you can make your scheduling form available digitally, you should deploy appointment scheduling software into the system.

ARE YOUR PATIENTS ROUTINELY UNPUNCTUAL?

You are probably the cause of this if your organization suffers from it. People don’t want to waste their time as much as you also don’t want to. Coming late becomes an option for them if on one or two occasions you have made them wait for long before getting attended to.

To maintain a proper scheduling system, you must deduce the several means by which you can stop your patients from showing up late for their appointments.

If this keeps happening, then a double-book appointment can be a good schedule to try out.

COLLECT DATA TO SPOT TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES

The essence of collecting data for the analysis of trends is to help you figure out the flaws and strengths in the scheduling system. You don’t want to keep doing the same thing; reflecting on the past and learning from it could be one great key to making progress in any field.

An analysis of what you have to work on and what your team is already making progress on can best be conducted with any scheduling software that has robust reporting features.

This is not included in our fifth tip on this list because gathering data and evaluating your progress can be accomplished even without software.

AUTOMATE ROUTINE RESPONSES

Have you at any point considered helping your patients, as well as your staff, enjoy the scheduling system process better than ever? Automating responses is one of the most appropriate ways to handle that.

Science has made responding to commonly asked questions much easier with the invention and development of certain advanced patient scheduling system tools.

With these tools, you can automate responses to some of the most asked questions for a faster response, thereby making patients feel more comfortable with your services.

In addition, think of how better things will get if you no longer have to manually send the same response to people requesting appointment cancellation, rescheduling, or confirmation.

THERE MUST BE PUNCTUALITY

As simple as this may appear, it is something most doctors fail to look into, thereby causing an inevitably failed scheduling system.

Doctors should make an effort to arrive at their offices hours or minutes before their scheduled patient appointments.

It is always important to work on your punctuality alongside other members of your team if you have not always kept to time.

SEND BROADCAST MESSAGES

Broadcast messages can be the very best way to improve patients’ scheduling systems, as they help reach a larger audience more quickly.

That we are open to making mistakes as humans is an inevitable fact of life. Since only computers can always function as programmed, unless faulty, it is ideal that we seek other ways to work towards perfection.

Your clinic may be unable to keep the time of appointment given to patients as a result of some unforeseen circumstances. It is normal; however, the sudden change in your schedule is only your fault if it causes your patients trouble or makes a big difference in their lives.

A good way to approach this is to update them quickly. Having to call every patient can be relatively slow and cost your staff a lot of time.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Other than the tips to improve the patient’s scheduling system, there are likely some other things you want to be clear about. So, you might want to look at our answers to some of the most common questions below.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF PATIENTS APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING?

We shall quickly discuss some of the top appointment scheduling types everyone should know.

Wave Scheduling: This is one of the most flexible scheduling systems you can use. It allows patients to visit more than once daily, receiving whatever service is needed gradually.

If your goal is to make patients feel at ease with their appointments and to be available to them at all times, use a time-slot scheduling format. It gives room for patients to choose from the various available time slots.

As the name suggests, a double-scheduling appointment is usually an open appointment for more than one patient (most commonly two) to receive services in a single time slot.

Cluster Scheduling: This allows healthcare providers to book the same time for patients with similar service needs.

Matrix scheduling: This is more like a regular appointment calendar, lets users compare the resources and employees who are available at any given time.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF PATIENT SCHEDULING SYSTEM SOFTWARE?

The following software can help reduce the scheduling workload on your team:

PIMSY Mental Health EHR
MicroMD
CareCloud
Kareo Billing
MedicsPremier
Shifton
NueMD
Enablemypractice
DrChrono
AMS Ultra Chart

Many of the apps on this list can help you accomplish more than you have scheduled, as they have been selected for the general activities of medical doctors.

CONCLUSION

You should stick to the idea of moving (perhaps part of) your scheduling system to the web if you intend to improve patients’ experiences, as one patient engagement statistics revealed that there are about 325,000 mobile health applications on computers and smartphones today.

So, for example, this statistic should indicate what your competitors (in the health industry) are doing. You would also not want to miss out on the trend, so follow suit.

Moreso, building your online reputation should count for you because research has shown that nearly nine out of 10 consumers across the globe attempt to read reviews before going for a product.

Following the highlighted tips in this piece will incontrovertibly help you improve the patient scheduling system of your organization. Thanks for reading!

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Health

Report Causes Pfizer Stock to Climb Approximately $1 Billion Acquired by Starboard

(VOR News) – According to a rumor that activist investor Pfizer Starboard Value has taken a holding in the struggling pharmaceutical business that is expected to be worth around one billion dollars, the stock of Pfizer (PFE) is on the increase in premarket trading on Monday.

This comes after the report was made public. The report was made available to the general public following this. Starboard Value was successful in moving forward with the acquisition of the position.

Starboard is said to have approached Ian Read, a former chief executive officer of Pfizer, and Frank D’Amelio, a former chief financial officer, in order to seek assistance with its goals of boosting the performance of the company, according to the Wall Street Journal. Read and D’Amelio are both former Pfizer executives.

The purpose of this is to facilitate the accomplishment of its objectives, which include enhancing the overall performance of the firm.

In their previous jobs, D’Amelio and Read were chief financial officers.

It is stated in the report that the hedge fund is of the opinion that Pfizer, which is currently being managed by Albert Bourla, who succeeded Read as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2019, does not demonstrate the same level of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) discipline that Read did. Bourla took over for Read in 2019. Read was succeeded by Bourla in the year 2019.

Pfizer, a multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate, has made substantial investments in the acquisition of more companies that are involved in the research and development of cancer medicines.

These businesses have been acquired for billions of dollars. The biotechnology company Seagen, which was acquired by Pfizer in the previous year for a price of $43 billion, is included in this category. One of the businesses that can be classified as belonging to this category is Seagen.

In spite of the fact that the S&P 500 Index experienced a 21% increase in 2024.

No major trading occurred in Pfizer stock that year.

Due to the fact that the demand for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines fell after the firm reached its pandemic peak in 2021, the share price of the corporation has decreased by over fifty percent since that time.

This drop has occurred ever since the company’s shares reached their maximum peak, which was during the time that this decline occurred. Not only have they not changed at all, but they have also remained essentially stable. This is in contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained 21% since the beginning of this year.

Recently, the corporation was forced to take a hit when it decided to recall all of the sickle cell illness medications that it had distributed all over the world.

Fears that the prescription could lead patients to experience severe agony and possibly even death were the impetus for the decision to recall the product. In spite of the fact that Pfizer’s stock is increasing by almost three percent as a result of the news that followed the company’s decision, this is the circumstance that has come about.

SOURCE: IPN

Health

New Study Reveals Drinking Soda Pop Increases the Risk of Stroke

If you drink too much soda, fruit juice and coffee, beware!

A recent report from global research indicates that excessive consumption of coffee or soda pop is associated with an increased risk of stroke, although the intake of black and green tea is correlated with a reduced risk. Excessive consumption of soda pop or coffee warrants caution!

Recent research indicates that it may substantially elevate the risk of stroke.

Consuming four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke, according to studies, although ingesting 3-4 cups of black or green tea daily typically offers protection against stroke. Additionally, consume more coffee; it may reduce your risk of mortality.

Recent findings from global research studies co-led by the University of Galway and McMaster University, alongside an international consortium of stroke researchers, indicate that soda, encompassing both sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened variants such as diet or zero sugar, is associated with a 22 percent heightened risk of stroke. The risk escalated significantly with the consumption of two or more of these beverages daily.

Stroke Risk Fizzy Drinks and Soda Pop

The correlation between fizzy drinks consumption and stroke risk was most pronounced in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Women exhibit the most elevated risk of stroke from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage) associated with fruit juice beverages. Consuming over 7 cups of water daily diminishes the likelihood of stroke due to a clot.

Researchers observed that numerous items advertised as fruit juice are derived from concentrates and have added sugars and preservatives, potentially negating the advantages often associated with fresh fruit and instead elevating stroke risk.

Fruit juice beverages were associated with a 37 percent heightened risk of stroke resulting from bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage). Consuming two of these beverages daily increases the risk thrice.

Consuming over four cups of coffee daily elevates the risk of stroke by 37 percent, although lower consumption levels do not correlate with stroke risk. Conversely, tea consumption was associated with an 18-20 percent reduction in stroke risk. Additionally, consuming 3-4 cups daily of black tea, such as Breakfast and Earl Grey varieties, excluding green and herbal teas, was associated with a 29 percent reduced risk of stroke.

Consuming 3-4 cups of green tea daily was associated with a 27 percent reduction in stroke risk. Notably, the addition of milk may diminish or inhibit the advantageous effects of antioxidants present in tea. The lower risk of stroke associated with tea consumption was negated for individuals who added milk.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational reasons and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical counsel. Consistently consult your physician regarding any inquiries pertaining to a medical problem.

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Health

Following a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer, What Else Should You Know?

(VOR News) – Even though breast cancer affects one in eight American women, receiving a diagnosis can make a woman feel isolated.

Experts in breast cancer from the American College of Physicians (ACS) advise patients on how to manage their disease so that they may better cope with this awful information.

First, the kind and stage of breast cancer dictates the course of your care.

In addition to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, there are various surgical options available for the treatment of breast cancer.

Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by triple-negative breast cancer, an extremely aggressive form of the disease that has never proven easy to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society, pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an immunotherapy, has been shown to be helpful when combined with chemotherapy and is currently the recommended course of treatment for certain combinations of triple-negative breast cancer.

In her presentation, Dr. Katharine Yao said, “It’s really important that the patient and physician discuss the patient’s preferences and values when deciding what type of treatment to pursue and that they have an honest, individualized discussion with their care team.”

She is currently responsible for developing breast cancer treatment recommendations for more than 575 hospitals and institutions nationwide in her role as chair of the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Institutions (NAPBC).

Yao, vice chair of research at Endeavor Health NorthShore Hospitals in New York, pointed out that each decision made about a patient’s treatment plan should take her preferences and diagnosis into consideration.

She ought to think about whether she would prefer a mastectomy—a surgical procedure that involves removing the entire breast with or without reconstruction—or a lumpectomy, which involves a surgical procedure that spares part of the breast tissue.

She stated that “the breast cancer you have may be very different from the breast cancer you hear about in your neighbor, colleague, or friend” in a press release issued by the American Cancer Society (ACS).

“Consider that while discussing breast cancer with others.”

Throughout your journey, it is critical that you look after your emotional health because having breast cancer may have a detrimental impact on your mental health.

“Getting a cancer diagnosis does not mean that everything in your life stops to be normal.” Director of the Fellowship in the Diseases of the Breast program at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas and state head of the American Cancer Society Commission on Cancer for Arkansas, Dr. Daniela Ochoa She thinks adding the burden of a cancer diagnosis and treatment to all the other pressures in life may be taxing.

“Managing stress and emotional health is vital component of a treatment plan.”

Ochoa recommends clinically trained psychologists and social workers who have assisted people in coping with cancer to anyone receiving treatment. Learning coping techniques might also be facilitated by joining cancer support groups or cancer wellness initiatives.

Breast cancer specialists say your care team is crucial.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) defines comprehensive care as having support at every stage of the procedure from surgeons, oncologists, patient navigators, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and other specialists.

After receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, women should see a surgeon or medical oncologist to explore their options; nevertheless, treatment shouldn’t be discontinued after just one appointment or after surgery is over.

Additionally, you can ask trustworthy friends or family members to accompany you to appointments and aid you with research or notes. They could serve as a network of support for you.

Yao stated in his talk that “one of the most important things is that patients should search out a team they have confidence in, that they trust will have their back when they need it, and a team they feel they can get access to and that will help them when they are in need.”

SOURCE: MP