Using digital communication tools to improve patient care
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 22nd December 2024
Recent technological advancements have enabled dental practices to integrate digital consultation and communication tools, offering new opportunities for patient care while improving accessibility and reach. A strong digital presence can engage patients by sharing personalised educational materials, helping them take an active role in their oral health. Additionally, healthcare providers can use mobile tools to collect data and improve service delivery, enhancing overall care quality.
Although many dentists have some concerns, nearly 70% of those surveyed see significant potential—both clinically and financially—in offering strategically planned remote services.[i]
With a dizzying range of options now available, it may be helpful to go back to basics, assessing how patients engage with information, how innovative communication methods can benefit practices, and how the large amounts of data generated from increased digital interaction can be safeguarded.
Remote services: what are they?
Synchronous technologies, such as the phone, live video, or instant messaging, enable real-time, two-way conversations between patients and providers. Asynchronous tools, such as secure in-app data transfers, allow for the exchange of consent forms, letters, and health information. Together, these systems create a comprehensive communication hub for patients.
Teledentistry, originally defined as using digital technology to triage urgent cases, and provide education, advice, and provisional diagnoses, has evolved into a broader field, often overlapping with mobile health (mHealth).[ii]
Why offer digital services to patients?
Traditional methods of offering remote advice, such as telephone, email, or letters, remain highly important to be fully accessible, but including alternative digital communication tools offers a number of significant advantages.
In the UK, 94% of adults own a smartphone, with the highest usage among those aged 24 to 34. Patients increasingly use this technology to access a range of services, including medical care. Tools range from fitness, sleep, and heart-rate trackers or health-related alerts to self-assessment tools and clinician appointment booking services. Additionally, more than 50 million people worldwide use app-based self-triage, specifically to address health concerns.[iii]
Offering digital communication platforms enables patients to obtain services in ways that are accessible and convenient for them. An effective suite of communication tools can help build a stronger patient base by providing flexible ways to access dental care. Digitally supported consultations can be easily recorded and integrated into relevant patient data records and other health information. Easy access to these records as well as clear records of other communications between clinicians and dental professionals promotes safety by saving an audit trail — for example, proving consent was appropriately obtained.
The benefits of mHealth tools became particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they have evolved to offer further opportunities to enhance the patient experience through remote clinical care.
Digital communication systems offer opportunities to disseminate general or personalised educational material and information about oral health, hygiene practices, and treatment options. Practices can also provide special alerts, reminders and prompts, helping patients keep up with appointments and treatment advice.
Securely implementing video consultations fosters strong patient relationships and provides clear records of key discussions. Virtual services can also reduce patient anxiety and build trust by familiarising them with the dental practice, its personnel, and its services.
Safety and security
While many dentists embrace the advantages of offering digital remote services, significant concerns remain among dental professionals. In the survey cited above, approximately 50-70% of respondents expressed worries about the security of patient data and the challenges associated with obtaining informed consent.i This underscores the need for robust data protection measures and protocols to ensure patient safety in the context of teledentistry.
Connect&Consult is a secure, cloud-based integrated feature within the AeronaDental Patient Portal solution. Not only does the feature enable detailed consultation via audiovisual technology, it has consent management features, and manages, edits, and stores clinical notes, appointment bookings and payments. Treatment planning for video consultations is also managed, edited, and stored as part of AeronaDental’s practice management software. Other comprehensive patient communication tools are integrated, offering safety, convenience and security, creating a seamless patient journey and an automated workflow for your clinic.
Fostering a digital relationship with your patients enables greater access to services, expands your reach, and provides your patients with peace of mind. Offering comprehensive patient communication tools not only supports clinical care but also meets the growing expectations of healthcare in the modern era.
For more information, please visit aerona.com
[i] Maqsood A, Sadiq MSK, Mirza D, Ahmed N, Lal A, Alam MK, Halim MSB. The Teledentistry, Impact, Current Trends, and Application in Dentistry: A Global Study. Biomed Res Int. 2021 Oct 25;2021:5437237. doi: 10.1155/2021/5437237. PMID: 34845437; PMCID: PMC8627361.
[ii] Eaton KA. The development of digital dentistry in the UK: An overview. Primary Dental Journal. 2022;11(4):94-98. doi:10.1177/20501684221134198
[iii] Rowland SP, Fitzgerald JE, Holme T, Powell J, McGregor A. What is the clinical value of mHealth for patients? NPJ Digit Med. 2020 Jan 13;3:4. doi: 10.1038/s41746-019-0206-x. PMID: 31970289; PMCID: PMC6957674.
