Patients today want digital experiences. They use wearable fitness trackers and apps to monitor their health, and they expect similar capabilities from their health care providers.

At the Eye Center of New York, we use digital touchpoints whenever possible. We have integrated Yosi for digital patient check-in, CheckedUp to educate patients using tablets and flat screens in our reception lounge, Eidon (CenterVue) to provide a personalized digital imaging tour in the exam lane, and Rendia for digital postvisit education. We also utilize Square Invoice for premium private-pay invoicing and CareCloud PM, a practice management system that enables automated email and text message appointment confirmations.

These digital solutions don’t replace the jobs of our front office staff; to the contrary, they enable them to engage our patients on a higher level. This article further details some technologies and applications that have been playing a role in my practice as of late.

EIDON

Eidon (pictured above) is a true-color confocal scanner, operated via tablet with a multitouch, high-resolution display. We have the Eidon device networked to large 4K touchscreens in our exam lanes to provide patients with personalized digital imaging tours of their eyes. By displaying a large image of the patient’s own retina and pathology—rather than simply showing them a generic animation—this technology has proven to be incredibly disruptive (in a good way, of course).

PATIENT JOURNEY

The Patient Journey app enables physicians to create a custom app for their practice to replace the paper printouts of pre- and postoperative instructions. With Patient Journey, patients or their caregivers are given timely notifications regarding these instructions, which are delivered per the surgeon’s set schedule.

At the time of surgical booking, a practice staff member assists the patient or caregiver in downloading the app and then selects a procedure and a surgical date. This sets off a sequence of timed reminders that take the patient through his or her surgical journey. These notifications can range from reminding patients to arrange for a ride to daily reminders to take their eye drops. The Patient Journey app can be used to send patients a note, administer questionnaires, ask them to rate any pain, and even ask them gauge any dry eye symptoms during their postoperative course.

By pushing information to the patient at the right time (ie, a reminder at 9 pm the night before surgery not to eat or drink after midnight) my patients are able to more easily follow instructions and maintain compliance.

The Patient Journey app continues to add features but, even in its current form, provides a digital solution that improves the patient experience while simultaneously helping doctors and staff.

FORMULARY

Formulary is a useful app for current drug coverage and restriction information. I find it most helpful for the front-desk staff. Say, for instance, you want to know which nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug to prescribe with the least callbacks. The Formulary app will tell you what tier a drug is on, indicate whether it is covered, and list the covered alternatives.

CONCLUSION

The technologies and apps described above are some of the latest solutions I have integrated into my practice. As our time becomes scarce and patients’ demands increase, digital solutions such as these can help physicians provide personalized patient care in an efficient manner.