Patients today are relying heavily on the internet for health and wellness needs. Is your hospital prepared? Stay ahead of the curve with these five key tactics.
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Provide accurate medical information.
Fact: 59 percent of adults search online for health information. They research symptoms, treatments and weigh the importance of visiting a doctor. Top search engine result pages (or SERPs) for these searches tend to feature Web MD and Mayo Clinic. Whether you ascend to Mayo SERP heights or not, you should enrich your site with helpful content. Medicinenet provides patient-centered medical info anyone can access, including symptoms, treatment options and fast facts on each illness. Start with the most frequently diagnosed ailments and work your way down.
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Use chatbots.
While live chats are managed by living, breathing humans, they are often unable to respond right away and often demand your email to reply later. Chatbots offer similiar benefits of live people without the people. Chatbots answer questions and guide patients along their journey, saving time and money. Use chatbots on your website and on Facebook Messenger to increase customer engagement.
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Let patients schedule appointments online.
It’s not just Millennials who are accustomed to doing things online. In fact, 96 percent of Americans shop on the web. But hospitals have been slow to adapt to the online marketplace. Nobody likes making appointments by phone, so Mayo Clinic and Henry Ford Health System allow patients to request an appointment online. Although it takes up to three days for a response, it’s a big step forward in making the healthcare more online accessible.
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Optimize social media.
Your hospital needs a Facebook and Twitter presence. If you want to up your content, you need video. In 2016, the number of video posts per person on Facebook increased by 94 percent in the U.S. The American Heart Association does a great job of posting short videos explaining safety traning procedures and medical terms. See one here. Can’t make a video? Share one.
While you’re at it, boost engagement. Reach out to your audience though quizzes and polls. It’s also great to collaborate with partners. Tag partner videos and games and share. Everyboydy wins.
Want more tips? See these infographics on when and how to post the best content.
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Get good reviews.
Easier posted than done. Still, patients reviewing hospitals, treatments, and doctors is a thing (see RateMDs or Healthgrades). If they’re not doing it on your website, they probably should. According to squared media, 58 percent of consumers say that the star rating of a business is the most important factor they consider when making purchases. Instead of tracking down your review on Yelp and Consumer Affairs, why not put them on your website? You may earn trust and referrels along the way.
Credit: ratemds.com
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