Technology has become an inseparable part of our lives. Along with the humongous repertoire of information available at the click of a button, technology has made our lives much more convenient. Technology is trending in almost every aspect of human life, be it entertainment or healthcare. The ease in internet connectivity is enabling all sectors to make optimum use of the technology available. Recent times have seen healthcare providers across the world hopping on the bandwagon and slowly making the transition to online platforms. This shift to online systems is beneficial in many ways.
An online doctor appointment system is the most important part in digitisation of healthcare. Online doctor appointment platforms are seen in the most advanced hospitals because of the high costs associated with its set-up. Doctors and patients who are acquainted with this system say that online doctor appointment platform save a lot of time, resources and money in the long run. Through this, patients can see the doctor’s availability and choose an appointment slot based on their convenience. This guarantees a negligible waiting time and is an excellent way of getting more patients to come for regular health check-ups. The healthcare system of a country decides the long-term productivity of its population. Online doctor appointment systems increase accessibility for patients.
Traditionally, hospitals have been spending tonnes of money and manpower on manual management of appointments, record keeping, data entry and file documentation. When these get digitalised, the accuracy in data storage increases and the ease of accessing the data gets better. The online doctor appointment software is just a part of this digitalisation, albeit a large one. Doctors and patients both depend on smartphones heavily, which makes the transition to a digital system easier. Once the online doctor appointment software is set up, patients and doctors can derive benefits from it 24/7. Patients can check the doctors’ availability whenever they want, with no restrictions of adhering to office hours. The software can be tweaked according to the hospitals' requirements to fill all slots and reduce no-shows. Hospitals have a 14% absenteeism after taking appointments over the phone, a number which can be reduced through online doctor appointment systems. Studies show that the leading cause of no-shows is forgetfulness of the patients. With a customised online doctor appointment platform, patients will be able to receive regular reminders for their appointment. The doctor's schedule will also be well-regulated.
Some online doctor appointment software may also be coupled with slot selection for X-rays, CT-scans, blood tests, etc. If patient records, test results, history, etc are uploaded in the system as a part of online doctor appointment software, it will greatly increase the ease of handling interdepartmental patients. This way, the patient’s well-being will be efficient, quick and transparent. Online doctor appointment systems will pave the way for a healthier doctor-patient relationship. It will also build patient’s confidence in the healthcare system. A seamless and hassle-free online doctor appointment platform means better healthcare for all and thus a progressive nation.