Oct 4, 2024
May 14, 2023 - Arminco Inc.
Are you looking to upgrade your medical office with some new technology? Ideally, the right tech will improve both your practice as well as your patients' care.
However, incorporating tech into your office space requires careful consideration of your needs, as well as your patients' needs. Fortunately, it's not too hard to start using new tech in your office. Here's what you need to know.
First, there are a few general things you need to understand about incorporating technology into your medical office. If you're looking to design a new office, consider what technology you will be using as early as possible. For existing offices, consider remodeling the space for a physical-digital journey.
Understanding the workflow of your medical professionals, as well as being able to map the patient journey, is important and will ultimately determine what technology you use.
That said, there are some technology solutions every medical office can benefit from.
Wearable devices aren't new. Even in the consumer space, smart devices such as the FitBit have been around for over a decade.
Wearable devices can automatically record and send data. For example, a patient's blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart rate could all be remotely monitored, measuring and sending data to the patient's provider.
A common use of wearable devices is an HSAT or home sleep apnea test. These tests can be more affordable and convenient than an in-lab study.
Of course, your office will still need to store the equipment, as well as allow for pick up and drop off of the equipment. Plus, there's the need for a clinic to download and analyze the results of the sleep study.
A medical office could also benefit from using a patient portal. An online portal such as this allows a patient to securely send or receive messages from a provider (as opposed to using email). A patient could also request a prescription refill, review summaries of previous visits or look over test results, fill out forms for an upcoming visit, or schedule a new appointment.
Of course, a virtual consultation or telehealth visit could also be conducted, allowing a patient to see a healthcare provider via a video call. These virtual consultations prevent patients from traveling to a medical office or a specialist.
However, using telehealth requires an office design you may not have, so consider a redesign. A dated office can lead to a lack of privacy, as well as difficulties in communication.
Make sure that an attending physician or nurse can attend to a telehealth patient with privacy. No one wants their personal health status overheard by others,
The more a medical office embraces technology, the greater the potential for a streamlined practice, cost-efficient care, and patient satisfaction. By working with medical technology and embracing it, both your medical office and your patients stand to benefit.
However, if your current office is not designed to take advantage of new technology, or if the design is simply outdated, it may be time to consider a redesign.
That's where Arminco Inc. comes in. We have a proven track record of working with medical providers to redesign and update their offices. Contact us about your next redesign.