Earlier this month, the FDA approved the nation’s first COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech. While initial vaccinations will be provided to front line healthcare workers and residents and staff of long-term care facilities, the incoming Biden Administration has set a goal of distributing 100 million vaccine doses in his first 100 days in office.
In addition to this aggressive distribution plan, pharmacies and healthcare practices are managing one of the busiest flu immunization seasons to date. Here’s how physicians and healthcare providers can prepare their offices now for an influx of patients and communications around the COVID-19 vaccine.
Utilize Solutions to Communicate with and Educate Patients
Many patients have expressed concerns about potential side effects around the vaccine and are hesitant to receive it once available. While COVID-19 vaccines are being distributed in a phased approach, it’s important to educate patients on the benefits of the treatment, when and how they can expect to receive it and more.
Even if your practice is not readily distributing vaccines, your team can benefit from improved communications to proactively manage patient inquiries and to provide patients with helpful materials. With tools such as Broadcast Messaging and Secure Text, you can reach patients where they are and how they like to communicate with options for email, SMS messaging and more in order to keep your patients at ease and in the know.
From Secure Texting to Online Forms, Implement Tech to Manage the Vaccination Process
Since the start of the pandemic, pharmacies and healthcare systems have worked fast to provide patients with the best care possible. For instance, in March many providers quickly integrated telehealth into their workflows to safely triage patients. Now, with the approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, our industry finds itself again acting quickly to prepare for a large volume of immunizations.
With an uptick in patients entering your office to receive the vaccine, additional paperwork and increased communications have the potential to overwhelm staff. That’s why we’ve put together an Updox Response Package. This bundled offering includes our Secure Text, Broadcast Messaging and Electronic Forms solutions that can help your team quickly and effectively manage patient communications.
Here’s how you can use each tool to help patients and staff breeze through the process:
- Broadcast Messaging: whether your team is or is not actively distributing vaccines, this tool can help proactively answer patient questions and provide a medium to share important information about the vaccine, availability at your practice and COVID-19 developments.
- Secure Text: to get patients ready for their vaccine appointment, your staff can send a secure text message to share appointment details. Post-appointment, your team can reiterate possible side effects and confirm a patient’s follow up vaccination.
- Electronic Forms: during the appointment process, with Electronic Forms you no longer have to swap clipboards and pens. Your patients and staff can remain safe through contactless check-ins and digital intake.
Ready to learn more workflow strategies and how your healthcare organization can use virtual care solutions to efficiently and safely deliver COVID-19 vaccines? Click here for all the details.
