If you asked most patients why they visit the hospital, they’ll probably say that they go there to receive immediate treatment for pressing health issues. However, annual wellness visits or general checkups can be just as important for keeping patients in good health.
Entrepreneur and philanthropist David Duel is the founder and CEO of EasyHealth, a 400-person Medicare platform that uses cutting-edge technology to combine insurance and healthcare services. He comments, “Annual checkups, preventive care, and other preemptive healthcare services are a much more pleasant alternative to emergency room visits. In fact, annual wellness visits significantly reduce patients’ chances of going to the hospital for major health issues.”
Because studies have shown that annual wellness visits can reduce hospital readmissions and the length of hospital stays, it is imperative to make sure all patients get regular checkups for their overall health’s sake. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done when many patients would rather save time and money by forgoing their annual visits.
“You have to convince them that it’s worth their time. For some, this might mean sending your patients reminders through email or text. For others, you might want to include reminders in helpful content like newsletters,” David Duel said.
Helpful, engaging content such as newsletters with health tips can be the best way to get patients’ attention and convey the importance of annual checkups.
“As a healthcare provider, your patients’ health should be the top priority. That’s why it’s your responsibility to get them through the doors for their annual checkups. One thing that helps a great deal is making the experience as convenient for them as possible.” David Duel added.
For more info on EasyHealth and David Duel, see : Medicare startup EasyHealth gets $135M in series A to fill information gaps