Patient Initiated Medical Messaging
Another slide interface that CHIME has created is a Patient-Initiated Medical Messaging Interface, designed to guide patients through the process of sending messages to their healthcare providers. This system is particularly useful for clinics that need help managing an overwhelming amount of medical messages from patients efficiently, while also considering the compensation of physicians for their time and expertise.
The messaging interface is structured to guide patients through several important steps. This ensures that they are informed of the options available to them and can make decisions based on their preferences. Here’s how the system works:
1. Advising Patient of Their Options
The first slide that patients are directed to advises them that sending a message is not covered by OHIP and that a fee will be required, and they can alternatively book an appointment instead of sending a message. This option is available at no charge, and it ensures that patients who prefer in-person or virtual consultations can still get the care they need without incurring additional fees for messaging.
2. Acknowledgement of Timeline
Patients are notified to not send urgent concerns via message are they are not immediately reviews, and all urgent concerns should be addressed through an appointment with their physician.
Patients will then enter their OHIP and identifying information to ensure that the system will link to the correct patient’s chart when pulling information from Oscar.
3. Advising Patients of Costs & the options: Messaging, Appointment, or Annual Subscription
The patient is advised in further detail of the fees for sending their message, and provides additional details regarding the clinic’s annual block fee.
After understanding the costs and alternatives, patients are prompted to choose from one of the following options:
Book an Appointment: Patients can opt to schedule an appointment with their healthcare provider without any charge.
Pay Per Message: If the patient prefers to proceed with messaging, they will be asked to pay a fee set by the physician or clinic.
Subscribe to an Annual Fee: Some clinics offer an annual subscription for messaging, which allows patients to send unlimited messages throughout the year for a fixed fee.
These options provide flexibility, ensuring that patients can choose the option that best suits their situation.
4. Drafting and Submitting the Message
If the patient selects the paid messaging option, they are directed to a simple, user-friendly message editor. Here, they can write out their medical inquiry and attach any relevant files (such as images or medical reports). This ensures that physicians have all the necessary information to review the patient’s request.
5. Completing Payment
Once the message is composed, the patient is directed to an invoice page, where they are required to complete the payment before submitting their request. This step ensures that the clinic receives payment for non-covered services before the message is processed, reducing administrative burdens on the clinic.
Why This Interface Benefits Both Clinics and Patients
This messaging interface has been designed with both patients and clinics in mind. By offering a clear and structured pathway, patients can make informed decisions about how they wish to communicate with their healthcare provider. Clinics, in turn, are able to manage patient communications more effectively and ensure that physicians are appropriately compensated for their time spent on correspondence outside of standard appointments.
CHIME’s Patient-Initiated Medical Messaging Interface provides a structured way for patients to engage with their healthcare providers while ensuring clinics can manage their communications efficiently. By offering clear choices and guiding patients through the process, this tool enhances the patient experience while supporting the operational needs of clinics.
