MMS in Healthcare: Improving Patient Communication Through Multimedia

Widespread usage of mobile devices may lead to a growth in the application of telemedicine techniques, which might enhance patient outcomes by facilitating communication between healthcare practitioners and increasing access to specialized counsel.

MMS messaging services were transforming medical practices’ and practitioners’ interactions with patients and clients even before the epidemic. SMS, which originated as a straightforward appointment reminder text, has facilitated meaningful and innovative communication between doctors and patients.

Before we go into the six ways you may utilize mms messaging to enhance the healthcare experience, let’s look at a few things to keep in mind.

Things to think about before to using MMS Services:

Present choices

MMS messaging is preferred above other kinds of communication by 73% of customers worldwide, but when it comes to healthcare, it’s critical to accommodate all communication preferences. Before proceeding, make sure you maintain consent and provide MMS as an alternative.

Create Guidelines

Create internal and external policies that address remit, scope, privacy, and compliance. Sensitive patient health information must be safeguarded at all times in accordance with the Aus Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The company or clinic may be subject to heavy fines or penalties if patient health information (PHI) is compromised or revealed by practitioners who choose not to use encrypted text messaging services. It’s critical that you recognize your responsibilities and make an effort to fulfill them. Get in touch with our team of Mms professionals to find out more about how you can.

Join Channels

If you currently use other channels for communication, think about how MMS may bolster or enhance your existing strategies. For instance, if you are scheduling appointments by email (20% open rate). Which is seldom viewed, think about sending a follow-up text if a patient does not answer, or adding a text message (98% open rate) in tandem.

Look for integrations

If you currently use a platform for managing healthcare, look for interfaces that let you integrate text messaging right in. In addition to saving you time while transferring platforms, this has a ton of other advantages.

Reminders for appointments

Regardless of the business, MMS appointment reminders may minimize no-shows by 10% to 15% on average; however, for clinics or healthcare providers, this number can rise to 80%! 

Reminders are one of the most often used use cases by healthcare practitioners, and most patients now anticipate receiving one before an appointment. In fact, if MMS reminders aren’t employed, an increasing dependence on them can lead to an increase in no-shows.

Updates on emergencies

Many healthcare institutions are using text messaging during COVID to communicate with patients quickly and efficiently. Physicians need a strong communication tool that is readable and cuts through the noise. Especially with the ever-changing circumstances and the significance of public health alerts.Texting the police, receiving notifications about possible wildfires, and providing an emergency text service for the disabled are just a few of the many uses for MMS in the emergency services industry.

Advancing health education and awareness

Text messaging is being used as a preventative measure by certain healthcare practitioners. Using text messaging to reduce needless patient visits, raise patient knowledge of health issues, and provide opportunity for people to take long-term care of their health.

In one study, 65% of Australian males who participated in MMS were able to recall an educational campaign on prostate intervention, and they expressed a need for further text-based information. In a research conducted in Spain, 68% of women who received an SMS reminder three days before their breast screening appointment also attended the exam. 

MMS is becoming an increasingly popular method for changing audience behavior, particularly with inactive or static audiences. This is already evident in education, as MMS helps students who struggle with distant learning and come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds get higher results.

Using SMS to keep patients on track

Don’t limit yourself to appointments! Sending patients reminders can assist them in remembering to take their medicines or schedule follow-up visits, much like raising health awareness. We all know that patients are forgetful and busy. Text messaging may be integrated into a more comprehensive end-to-end service experience for your patients. Starting from their mobile devices, thanks to automatic scheduling offered by text platforms.

Pre-medical or post-check-in MMS

Returning to the topic of enhancing the complete patient experience. We are observing an increase in the number of service providers handling follow-ups and check-ins. Check-ins and follow-ups are a little different in the healthcare industry since they support doctors in helping patients achieve their health goals.

Nonetheless, patients are frequently responsible for these follow-ups and check-ins.

Verify in the template

Having doctors get in touch with patients who are hopeless, unable, or forgetful may greatly enhance the patient experience. Even while it would seem like this would add additional work to a doctor’s already full plate. Internal personnel can oversee and manage automatic follow-ups, raising concerns when constructive criticism is received. 

Using feedback loops to increase individualized patient involvement can only strengthen your bonds with them and guarantee better patient care.