As society’s reliance on technology grows, you may wonder whether it will ultimately benefit or harm your business.
Technological advancements in healthcare have transformed medical practices, offering life-changing potential. Yet, since the COVID-19 pandemic, the shift to online operations has reduced the need for face-to-face interactions in many aspects of healthcare. While this can make services more accessible, it raises the question: Can technology truly support patients in the way they need?
The digital space offers vast opportunities for healthcare, from telemedicine to AI-driven strategies. As a digital agency, we believe digital marketing can play a powerful role in healthcare. In this blog post, our experts explore how technology impacts healthcare, the importance of maintaining a patient-first approach, and strategies for balancing technological advancement with care in your digital strategy.
How much should your healthcare business rely on digital strategies?
Human connection is crucial to ensuring that your patients feel comfortable and receive the support they need, both physically and emotionally. Active listening and communication are necessary for any person feeling vulnerable; reducing face-to-face interactions due to digital reliance may make your patients feel disconnected from the care they require and deserve. If healthcare businesses rely more on digital solutions than on their employees, it could lead to significant challenges and raise public concerns about delivering empathetic and comprehensive healthcare services.
Digital transformations in every sector, including healthcare, are inevitable. By strategically planning ahead of your industry market, you can gain a competitive advantage with up-to-date strategies and find a balance incorporating a human touch that your patients, and even your employees, may need to ensure your business provides the best possible care.
Finding a balance: Human care in your digital strategy.
So far, we have recognised that technology is an inevitable tool that most healthcare businesses must adopt. We have also discussed why face-to-face communication is so vital. For the most effective strategy for your business, let’s explore some hybrid solutions:
AI-driven strategies
AI is taking the digital world by storm with its rapid advancements and ability to enhance everyday tasks. It could be a valuable tool in your healthcare business.
In healthcare, AI’s ability to analyse data can be used to create patient reports, risk assessments, symptom checkers, and tailored treatment plans. These are just a handful of ways that AI can save your healthcare business time to spend with patients 1-to-1 while maintaining the efficiency of your workflow. This not only provides a solution for patients who need face-to-face communication but also allows you to save time that can be spent on more patients who need support.
It’s important to understand that AI will not always have the answers and perform tasks correctly, which can be a concern when handling patient data. We encourage regularly monitoring AI systems, tools, and results to prevent this issue. This approach ensures that patient data remains secure while delivering compassionate and comprehensive care.
Bespoke software development
Paper-based processes are transitioning to digital platforms as our world moves towards sustainability and the need for quick consumption increases. It’s important to keep up-to-date with your patients' needs. With software solutions, you can increase the accessibility of your services for patients looking for straightforward and efficient healthcare access.
For instance, developing electronic health record systems allows patients to easily manage their patient data online, while internal systems enable employees to streamline their workflows and daily operations. These solutions are tailored to your business’s needs to maintain a human touch, reflected through customised employee dashboards, personalised patient recommendations, and inclusive design features to ensure accessibility for users of all abilities.
A popular and effective feature of healthcare software is the integration of AI-powered assistants or chatbots that handle patient inquiries and appointment bookings. These services are also accessible 24/7, so patients can access them when needed. These are time-savers for healthcare facilities that receive hundreds of the same questions every day and instead allow your employees to work on high-priority tasks. However, not all patients will feel comfortable using automated bots, so it’s important to offer various forms of communication to suit different patient preferences.
Telehealth and Video Marketing
Although the option for face-to-face services is vital, it’s also important to consider that many patients may require or prefer remote services. Telehealth is a digital technology that enables patients to access healthcare remotely through communication, such as mobile apps and phone calls. This can improve access to care for patients who, for example, have mobility issues or may require consistent check-ups that telehealth makes increasingly convenient and efficient. This maintains a human element by supporting various patient needs and creating positive user experiences through digital software.
Our team can help to build telehealth software or market these services through strategies such as social media or email marketing to promote your services directly to relevant people. A highly effective form of healthcare marketing is creating empathetic videos that not only showcase your facilities and services but also connect with your audience on an emotional level. By producing sensitive and informative videos, your healthcare business can effectively communicate your commitment to patient-centred care while building trust and credibility with current and potential patients.
Ready to elevate your healthcare business with innovative digital strategies? As a leading full-service digital agency, our expert team can support you with digital marketing, video production, bespoke web design and software development, and AI solutions with our AI consultations.
Contact us today to discover how we can transform your healthcare business with our tailored and unique digital services.
