The New Normal, Home-Based Healthcare

2020 proved that home-based healthcare needs to be invested in and implemented across the board. The shock of the pandemic was felt across the entire medical community as providers, big and small, lost revenue to low patient volumes. While some practices were set up to care for patients at home, many were scrambling to find ways to safely keep seeing patients. The truth is that the new normal is home-based healthcare.

Home-Based Healthcare and the Pandemic

Home-based healthcare was the solution to seeing more patients during the pandemic. While many providers made the necessary adjustments to their practice and offices to safely see patients, nothing tops the safety of a patient staying at home. The pandemic prompted many providers to figure out the best way to care for their patients that did not want to come in for in-person visits.

Home-based healthcare is traditionally thought of as “home health.” This is where a nurse or some sort of provider might stop in every so often to do basic check-ins, fluids, and minimal care upkeep. Home-based healthcare is not that. Healthcare at home is full-service health care for patients from inside their homes.

The future of Home Healthcare

The future of home-based healthcare is a full-blown mini treatment center at home. The best providers will have home-centric technology and software platforms that bring several pieces of the puzzle together. This tool will improve patient access, help patients find their providers, simplify scheduling and billing, and much more.

Benefits of Healthcare at Home

Patient Access:

Patient access solutions in home-based healthcare offer patients the ability to simply schedule via voice, chat, web, phone, and more. Patients who have increased access to care, or have an easy way to stay connected, are more likely to stay engaged in their provider. Higher engagement equals better results.

Finding a Provider:

Geocoding technology helps patients find the best and most appropriate provider for them, in their area. After a patient request is submitted, the home-based healthcare solution alerts the nearest provider and locations and has the flexibility to adapt to every situation.

Reminders:

Reminders are key to helping patients stay on top of their care. Patients who receive reminders are more likely to make their appointments, both in-person and digital, and adhere to follow up care. Home-based healthcare technology simplifies this process, so your patients get the reminders they need to stay on top of things, automatically.

Automated Communication:

Your organization is busy and does not always have the time it needs to help prepare its patients for their visit. Automated communication technology found in home-based healthcare, makes sure your patients are always prepared. Appointment reminders, procedure prep, instructions, and more are sent out days in advance.

Virtual Waiting Room:

Does your patient need to come in for a visit, but is worried about the safety of your building during the pandemic? A virtual waiting room is a solution. This tool enables patients to wait safely and comfortably from their car until your practice alerts them to come in. The check-in process is completed entirely on their phone.

Home-based healthcare is the future of healthcare. Providers who implement home-centric software solutions help their patients stay engaged, increase patient volumes, and keep them safe whether they are in or out of the practice. To learn more about home-based healthcare technology, click here.