Finally, some good news in the healthcare realm — this report from Mobi Health News outlines the extensive results of a survey related to digital communications. This section is most telling:
“Asked to list ‘most welcomed messages,’ respondents named three health-related messages. Sixty-nine percent welcomed a reminder about an upcoming appointment or vaccination, 57 percent mentioned a notice to reorder or pick up a prescription, and 39 percent would be happy with a message reminding them to schedule an appointment.”
So there you go. If you’re feeling shy about reaching out to your patients, don’t be. Assuming you’re professional and courteous, there’s good cause to remind them about prescriptions (especially if you’re a direct care doc who’s able to dispense in your state), their appointments, and any other relevant reminders (vaccines, preventative exams, etc.). Email will work best if action is required (emails are flaggable, remember?), although text messages are urgent and immediate. And think about it, assuming you’re speaking with subscribers, your communication is valuable. You’re not asking them for anything. You’re offering them what they have paid for, and deserve — high quality care.
The study found that 80 percent of respondents trust companies to know when and how much to contact them. That’s something worth considering when you’re in charge of your own practice. However, as you build better relationships with patients, it’s likely you’ll know when’s best to reach them.
And, in case you were wondering, the survey considered healthcare-related companies — providers, pharmacists, and insurance providers — to be the most trusted group.