With the emergence of new and advanced technology, the online market has taken a new pace. This is also in the online medical platforms like online pharmacies. And even appointments of doctors are being done nowadays on online platforms.
In the case of doctor appointment app development the question is which one is better. So today’s discussion is about ‘online vs offline appointments’. Which one helps the patients in a better way? Some rules have to be known before arguing about Online vs Offline appointments. Nowadays, the offline platform has become very difficult. The outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has to take a lot of discredit for that. Moreover, the growing busy lifestyle has made online appointments a better preference.
What are online and offline appointments?
The appointments of doctors which are made through the use of the internet on the website or through any mobile apps are called online appointments. On the other hand, without the use of the internet, booking an offline appointment in medical clinics or hospitals are called offline appointment. It is very debatable to conclude which one is better. So, we will discuss it by putting one against the other, which is Online vs Offline.
Reminders in Online vs Offline Appointments
When we book an online appointment, we get notifications or reminder emails for our appointment. This facility of reminders is not possible in offline medical clinics. It is only possible on online platforms. The paper system makes it extremely slow and tough in the offline system. Hardly you can get is a text message, which is often ignored. Right? We think you do not want to miss a doctor’s appointment because you failed to check your messages.
Follow-ups in Online vs Offline
The offline system has paper registers, and staff members tend to forget to call for follow-up. But, if you take online appointments you will get regular follow-ups. The system of online appointments is simple and also less hectic for all. The doctors respond also very quickly online. On the other hand, offline appointments do not have this system of quick response.
Rescheduling in Online vs Offline
Appointments Many online pharmacies offer to reschedule appointments. The doctor appointment app development work is extremely useful for these reasons. These apps not only book appointments as per your choice of the time slot, but can also reschedule your appointments. This facility is rarely available in offline appointments.
It is due to the manual system of taking care of appointments. Remember your mother/father asking you to “book a number” for offline doctor visits? Well, with the development of these doctor appointment app development, you save yourself from doing that in online appointments.
Preference in Online vs Offline Appointments
We know that no one gets the appointments of doctors all the time. Trying on offline, you might get a clear rejection. Now, when you do that online, the story is totally different. The tie-ups between the doctor appointment software and doctors give preference to those who use these platforms. It assists you to get nearby doctors with your online appointments.
Accessibility of doctors in Online vs Offline Appointments
How sure are you to get the doctor’s appointment in your desired time slot? Well, if you go offline then there might be some security issues. On the other hand, with an online appointment, you can check anytime whether the concerned doctor is present or not. We understand very well how much it hurts to visit a clinic to find out that the doctor left 5 minutes before you came. It happens with everyone.
Time-saving in Online vs Offline Appointments
Long queues and still no appointment? That usually happens when you choose offline appointments. With the world progressing at a rapid pace, no one really waits for anyone else. You need things to happen quickly and offline appointments generally take a lot of time.
In the case of online appointments, you can get on-call consultations as well. For example, you can get free diet consultation at these kinds of online health platforms. So, which one is better? Wasting time in long queues or clearing your doubts beforehand through these on-demand doctor application development healthcare platforms?
Now, you see what great options online digital healthcare platforms are. So, more effort, time, and money should be invested to promote these doctor appointment app development works to make the process of doctor’s appointment more easier and patient-friendlier. When we put a fight between Online vs Offline Appointments, surely, the clear winner will be online appointments. It is because with life getting busy day by day, online healthcare platforms will surely make it easier.
E-marketing:
The information of patients used for scheduling appointments can include email addresses and phone numbers. Health promotional drives such as healthcare packages, blood test packages, free check-ups on a chosen health topic (breast cancer awareness drives, mobile vision tests, blood test packages for senior citizens, etc.) can be spread among patients using the contact information they provided. This process can bring in more frequent visits by existing patients or bring in new patients through references.
New services that patients may be interested in can be easily broadcasted. Statistical studies in mobile marketing suggest that 70% of mobile searches lead to action on websites in just 1 hour. Promotional messages that are sent on the patient’s mobile can, thus, turn into an appointment.
Information and data provided while scheduling appointments online can be relied upon as it will be current. Returning patients are also likely to give their current email addresses and phone numbers while scheduling their appointments. Thus, contact information will be up to date in the online database rather than information provided on paper during their initial registration. This will ensure that promotional emails or messages surely reach the patient.
Online payment:
As all services will have an associated payment related to them, patients booking an online appointment and paying booking charges, are less expected to miss or totally avoid their appointments. This brings in more patients and keeps the doctor’s schedules full.
As online scheduling systems are safe and the information is kept secure, people are more comfortable with payments made online, especially in recent times when a myriad of services are sought online with convenience.
Discounts on consultation fees or providing a free consultation within a prescribed period after the first consultation can encourage patients to use the clinic’s online appointment scheduling services.
Save resources:
You can bring down documentation and consequently, the filing required, using doctor appointment scheduling software. Even offline digital calendars and schedulers, often lumbering, can leave you with information that has not been interlinked and that cannot be automatically updated. Unmanaged information keeps building and can turn disused.
A labour saving and self-managing online system can reduce the workforce required to man the appointment desk. You can reallocate existing staff for other key functions.
Save paper! This all is more relevant in today’s world, reducing the harmful impact on the environment. Also, using paper would mean folders, cabinets, and shelves, which require cleaning and maintenance obviously. Lesser number of files, lesser number of diaries and registers, lesser patient records to track and log. Along with making daily management more efficient, usage of paper can be reduced to a great extent with online systems. Paper usage is said to have dipped in recent years with the greater obtainability of large screen hand-held devices that can be used to access and display information.
This shows how space can be saved too. With a huge section of paperwork out of the way, a lot of office space can be more effectively and efficiently used. Reduced documentation can mean a nearly paperless office.
The efficient use of medical machinery and its facilities is another point to mention. Similar appointments can be assembled based on the use of facilities required. A list of patients ensured via confirmed appointments through the online appointment systems helps to conclude a definite plan when using particular machines or rooms at a care centre. Appointment charts can be set up, especially that certain rooms or equipment that need to be used simultaneously or back-to-back can be made available to medical personnel accordingly.
This makes sure that unnecessary back and forth movement between facilities or a lack of accessibility of existing facilities can be avoided. Medical resources can thus be used to the optimum level.
A Step Forward
Thus, health providers are leaning toward technology to modernize themselves and to improve the quality of their services. Online appointment scheduling systems are precisely a step forward for these medical service providers. Doing away with the nuisance of managing appointments and making the workflow less jumbled. Improving information capturing and reporting; time and efficiency savings; providing patients greater choice and convenience, thereby, improving patient faith and loyalty are some of the few advantages in adopting an online appointment scheduling system at your clinic as this is the ultimate future of the medical science world for sure.
