Tag: patient portal

QR code technology has opened the door to new cybersecurity risks. Providers must remain vigilant with protecting patient identities.

Will handshakes become a thing of the past? Will face masks become a regular feature of flu season? Will home-working remain popular, even after workplaces re-open? COVID-19 forced some abrupt behavior changes that challenged existing cultural norms, but as the pandemic subsides, how many of these adaptations will survive?   For healthcare executives, the return to on-site medical visits raises similar questions. Healthcare consumers were already expressing an appetite for more convenience and control, and the pandemic accelerated the use of digital solutions for everything from patient access to telehealth. Being able to book appointments, complete pre-registration forms and make payments online is the new baseline.   As patient volumes start to increase, hospitals and physician groups shouldn’t take their foot off the gas with digitalization, particularly in patient intake, which doesn’t have to involve in-person contact. There’s an opportunity now to learn from what’s worked well over the last year and cement the pandemic’s digital legacy.   What does the new normal look like in patient intake? Getting back to basics with convenience and compassion Once crisis mode has passed, providers can refocus their efforts on the building blocks of an optimal health service: high quality care and a convenient and compassionate patient experience. After the uncertainty and loss of control over the last year, patients want autonomy and choice. Initiating a smooth patient journey through online pre-registration, patient portals, virtual waiting rooms and digital scheduling can contribute to this.   Many will be happy to say goodbye to piles of paper forms and long waits in the waiting room. But any digital strategy must also support those with limited access to devices and broadband or limited digital literacy. Liz Serie, Director of Product Management at Experian Health, says:   “The goal is to give patients the same exceptional experience and care, regardless of when or how they complete patient intake. Using the same tools that we know our patients are already comfortable with will help to ensure an inclusive approach.”   Digital technology can support a multichannel approach, for example, using automated dialers to make phone calls where mobile apps aren’t an option, or using patient data to segment individuals according to contact preferences. Re-engaging hesitant patients The CDC reported in September 2020 that around 40% of adults delayed care due to the pandemic. While more recent data suggests fewer patients are deferring care, some experts worry that patient volumes won’t return to normal until 2022. How can providers ease the return to care?   Online health portals were helpful in keeping people out of facilities during the pandemic – can they now serve a different purpose in reminding patients to come in for check-ups?   Patients will need clear information about what protocols to follow during patient intake and what to expect from virtual waiting rooms, as well as reassurance that the experience will be safe. Streamlining patient access with accurate data Unlocking the digital front door made logistical sense during the pandemic. It’s even more critical as patient volumes drive back up. Providers will want to review their protocols to be sure that speedy implementation has not left that door open to costly data errors. Is the right information being collected at the right time?   Consumers are looking for flexible and accurate appointment slots for self-scheduling, and they want their financial ducks in a row as soon as possible with quick authorizations and coverage checks. Getting data right first time makes for a smoother patient experience, more efficient staff workflows and fewer claim denials down the line. Preparing for an uncertain future Looking ahead, patient intake protocols will need to be flexible enough to adapt to changing patient needs, particularly if there are further waves of the pandemic. Digital solutions can help providers prepare for the unexpected and shift from a reactive response in a crisis to a proactive step towards the future.   For many providers, future-proofing the patient intake experience is also an important remedy to the financial losses suffered during the pandemic. Digital solutions built on accurate data, consumer needs, accessible information can protect against further revenue loss by giving patients reliable ways to access and pay for care, no matter what the future holds.   Medicine is built on in-person care, but we don’t need to be face-to-face to fill out forms. Patient intake is one area where “the old way” doesn’t have to return. Find out more about how your organization can build on the pandemic’s digital legacy and create a leading patient intake experience.

See how patient portal automation ensures secure access for vaccine scheduling. Simplify enrollment, reduce admin burdens, and more.

As 2020 draws to a close and headlines hint that the end might finally be in sight for the pandemic, the healthcare industry is considering COVID-19’s legacy. The sudden shift to contactless care, financial consequences of widespread social distancing measures and changing expectations of the patient experience have upended the world of healthcare and health IT – but which changes are here to stay? And what do these changes mean for the patient experience in 2021? We asked several leaders across Experian Health for their predictions in the areas of patient access, collections, and identity management, and here is a preview of what they had to say: “Patients will choose providers that give them control over their healthcare experience” Patients have more opportunity today than ever before to manage their healthcare experience from the comfort of their own home, whether that be through patient portals, online self-scheduling and registration or online payment tools. As lockdowns and social distancing prevented patients from presenting in person, providers were forced to offer patients with more options for self-service. Unsurprisingly, this was a move a lot of patients have been waiting for and many welcomed this new technology with open arms. Jason Kressel, senior vice president of consumer products and analytics at Experian Health, expects that, as patients become more accustomed to this level of self-service, more than half of consumers will change providers in favor of one that offers premium digital healthcare services: “Providers who can meet patients where they are—through web-based services and via their mobile devices—will have the most success with retaining and attracting patients.” Online self-scheduling can put patients in the driver seat while also avoiding unnecessary contact while many remain cautious about on-site visits. With access issues removed, the patient experience will improve, in turn improving health outcomes (and providers’ bottom lines!). “With hospital finances on shaky ground, collections will be a top priority for survival” As COVID-related unemployment leads to an unstable insurance landscape, many providers are worried about maintaining effective collections processes, and they cannot afford to spend time chasing payments. Guarding against uncompensated care and tightening up the collections process will be essential. Automated collections software can help collections teams focus their efforts on patients who are most likely to pay, while also helping patients manage their financial obligations with as little stress as possible. Providers can also quickly determine which patients qualify for financial assistance, helping them get them on the right payment pathway for their circumstance without delay. Not only will this provide a much better patient financial experience, it’ll prevent “lost coverage” and allow providers to collect a larger portion of dollars owed. “The surge in portal usage means providers need to watch out for fraudsters” What does the rapid growth in portal uptake mean for data security? The speedy rollout of telehealth and other digital services has exposed security concerns for many providers, who fear a rise in fraudulent activity in 2021 as cybercriminals sniff out opportunities to steal patient data. To protect patient information and avoid costly reputational damage, providers must adopt more sophisticated identity management solutions. By combining cutting edge identity proofing, risk-based authentication and knowledge-based questions, providers can more easily verify a patient’s identity when they log on to their portal, greatly eliminating the risk of fraud. Interested in learning more about other trends that could affect the patient experience moving forward?

For many healthcare consumers, visiting patient portals to check medical records, schedule appointments, renew prescriptions and pay bills is a no-brainer. Accessible from multiple devices at any time of day, patient portals allow patients to manage their health from the comfort and convenience of their own home. COVID-19 has been a catalyst for even more patients to consider remote and virtual healthcare services. But with large healthcare data breaches increasing by nearly 200% between 2018 and 2019, one concern continues to lurk in the background: how do providers keep patient data safe? Knowing the industry is prone to dated cybersecurity measures, hackers zero in on the lucrative medical identities market, with their top targets including: patient medical records billing information log-in credentials authentication credentials, and clinical trial information. As COVID-19 encourages more patients online, the digital doors are open for even more identity thieves to try to steal – and profit from – sensitive data. Healthcare organizations need to be confident that the person logging on is who they say they are, both to reduce the risk of a data breach and minimize HIPAA penalties. One way to balance consumer convenience with data security is to automate the patient portal enrollment process with robust patient identification protocols, making it harder for hackers to access patient information but without burdening patients. 2 ways to automate patient portal enrollment 1. Ditch activation codes that are easily misplaced Many healthcare organizations give new patients an activation code to use the first time they log in to their patient portal. Unfortunately, these tiny bits of paper or codes hidden at the bottom of lengthy enrollment documents are easily lost or forgotten. The patient has to call the office, taking up valuable staff time and resources to figure out how to log on – the opposite of streamlined and scalable. Instead, providers should consider an automated portal sign-up process. Using a combination of out-of-wallet questions, device recognition, risk models and cross-checks with linked patient data, portal access can be secured through a single platform. It’s easier and more reassuring for patients, and with far fewer calls to IT support. 2. Find quicker ways to integrate patient identity tools with existing systems The more people who need to see patient data, the more opportunities there are for cyber thieves to sneak in and access that sensitive information. Being able to share data securely between multiple providers and across different platforms is essential. During the current COVID-19 crisis, integrating authentication tools with other healthcare information systems (HIS) quickly is a huge advantage. One example is Precise ID, which can now integrate directly with Epic’s MyChart portal, Allscripts’ FollowMyHealth platform and many other HIS systems within two weeks. Jason Considine, senior vice president and general manager of Experian Health’s Patient Experience Solutions says: “Patients want to feel reassured that their data won’t wind up in the wrong hands. That’s even more important right now, as COVID-19 means more patients are choosing online services instead of face-to-face contact. With staff and cashflow under pressure, it’s even more important to get systems up and running as fast as possible. That’s why we’ve integrated with leading HIS systems to help them achieve interoperability within just two weeks.” Patient portals have the power to transform the healthcare experience for patients, but only if they can trust that their data will be kept safe. Providers can protect their patients from identity theft by adopting a multi-layered solution that incorporates best practice and cutting-edge data security technologies. Find out more about how Experian Health can help you automate patient portal security to avoid medical identity theft, so you can save money, avoid reputational damage and create a positive patient experience.

Data-driven technology and automation can help drive improvements you meet changing consumer expectations in the world of patient access.

healthcare organizations can use data to fight medical identity theft. When you’re armed with the right information, you can put in place the right strategy.

Boost engagement with patient portals by keeping them secure and leveraging consumer data to reach your consumers with the right message at the right time.

When someone enrolls in the portal, use identity proofing to ensure they are who they say they are. It’s important to ask out-of-wallet questions.