18 patient engagement tools to supercharge your healthcare business

When engaged and informed, patients are more likely to take control of their well-being, follow treatment plans, and communicate effectively with their healthcare providers. That’s why effective patient engagement tools are crucial. They help healthcare organizations empower patients, leading to better health outcomes, increased satisfaction, and a stronger relationship between patients and healthcare teams.

So, how can healthcare businesses make this happen? In this blog post, we’ll explore 18 examples of patient engagement tools designed to help healthcare providers like you activate and engage patients – old and new – in meaningful ways.

What is patient activation and why it matters

Before we explore the tools, let’s talk about the foundation of patient engagement: patient activation. 

Patient activation refers to how involved patients are in managing their health and making informed decisions regarding their high-quality care. So, what does it mean to be an activated patient? It means having the ability to:

• Ask informed questions
• Understand treatment options
• Make decisions that align with personal values and goals
• Take ownership of health outcomes

By measuring patient engagement and promoting activation, healthcare organizations can provide patients with the resources and support they need to thrive. This, in turn, leads to better health outcomes, improved satisfaction, and a more collaborative care experience.

18 patient engagement tools to unlock deeper connections

Now that we have a foundation in patient activation let’s explore 18 tools healthcare providers can utilize to improve patient engagement. These tools promote communication, enhance care coordination, and give patients the support they need to stay engaged in their health.

1. Automated appointment reminders to reduce missed visits

Automated appointment reminders are essential for lowering no-shows and ensuring patients attend their scheduled visits. Birdeye can automate appointment reminders via text, email, or phone, ensuring patients stay on track with their appointments and never miss a crucial visit.

2. Real-time lab notifications to keep patients informed

Lab result notifications are crucial in keeping patients informed about their test outcomes. Birdeye’s Messaging AI can be used to send real-time notifications to patients when their test results are ready, ensuring prompt communication. These notifications can be delivered across multiple platforms, such as text, email, or social media, improving follow-up care and enabling patients to act quickly on their results.

3. Automated messaging for enhanced patient engagement

Birdeye’s Messaging AI allows healthcare providers to reach patients across various digital channels, including text, social media, email, and more. By sending personalized, automated messages, providers can engage patients more effectively and ensure they stay informed and active in their health management.

4. Empowering patients with consumer education resources

Patient education tools are vital in informing patients about their conditions and treatment options. Birdeye’s Chatbot AI can provide patients with easy-to-understand information through automated conversations on websites. This helps patients access educational resources 24/7, improving their understanding of their health conditions and treatment options.

5. Virtual care screenings for convenient remote consultations

Virtual care screenings offer patients a seamless way to connect with healthcare providers from their homes. Through automated appointment scheduling and AI-assisted initial assessments, patients receive timely, personalized care without needing in-person visits, enhancing convenience and accessibility.

6. Seamless care coordination between healthcare providers

Effective care coordination ensures smooth communication among healthcare providers, leading to continuous and efficient patient care. Birdeye’s integration with over 3,000 software systems streamlines provider communication, enhancing collaboration and ensuring all necessary patient information is readily available across different platforms.

7. Tailored communication for a personalized patient experience

Personalized communication tools are essential in providing patients with relevant and timely information. Birdeye’s Messaging AI and Reviews AI enable healthcare providers to send tailored messages, reminders, and updates that resonate with each patient’s unique health needs, creating a more personalized care experience.

8. Notifying patients of copayment responsibilities

Clear communication about copayments is essential to avoid confusion over financial responsibilities. Messaging systems can notify patients about their copayment obligations, ensuring they understand what’s due and reducing financial misunderstandings related to their care.

9. Payment reminders for managing healthcare expenses

Payment reminders help patients stay on top of their healthcare financial obligations. With Birdeye’s Payments tool, providers can send automated payment reminders via text, email, or other channels, making it easier for patients to manage their healthcare expenses and ensure timely payments.

10. Providing clarity with an Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

Providing clarity with an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) helps patients understand the details of their insurance claims, including what’s covered and their financial responsibilities. Birdeye Appointments offers a seamless way to collect patient insurance information at the time of booking. Additionally, messaging tools can be used to send EOBs to patients and address any questions they may have about their coverage, ensuring transparency and reducing confusion.

11. Post-appointment follow-ups for continued care

Post-appointment follow-up is essential for ensuring that patients receive the necessary aftercare. Birdeye’s Messaging AI can automate follow-up messages after appointments, allowing providers to check in with patients, clarify the next steps, and ensure they are comfortable with their treatment plans.

12. Remote monitoring solutions for ongoing patient health tracking

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) tools allow providers to track patients’ health metrics from a distance, reducing the need for in-person visits. Birdeye’s Integrations with various RPM technologies allow healthcare providers to seamlessly collect and monitor vital patient data, enabling them to make informed decisions and intervene early when necessary.

13. Ensuring post-discharge care for successful recovery

Ensuring post-discharge care is crucial for a successful recovery. Post-discharge follow-up tools help providers ensure that patients receive the necessary support after leaving the hospital, including referrals to appropriate specialists or follow-up care services. It reduces the risk of readmissions and improves recovery outcomes.

14. Breaking language barriers with translation tools

Language barriers can hinder effective communication in healthcare settings. Birdeye’s Messaging AI includes translation features that help providers communicate effectively with non-English-speaking patients, ensuring that all patients can understand their care instructions and improve their health outcomes.

15. Patient feedback tools for continuous improvement

Patient feedback is crucial for providers looking to improve care and patient satisfaction. Birdeye’s Reviews AI can automate the collection of patient reviews and feedback, ensuring that providers receive actionable insights on improving their services. This system also allows for automated responses, ensuring that feedback is addressed quickly and efficiently.

16. Health Risk Assessment tools to measure patient engagement

Health risk assessments (HRAs) help healthcare providers gather valuable information about a patient’s medical history, lifestyle, and potential health risks. With Surveys AI from Birdeye, providers can automate the collection of these assessments, ensuring that patient data is gathered quickly, accurately, and on time. By streamlining this process, healthcare providers can offer personalized care plans and early intervention strategies based on the gathered insights.

17. Identifying care gaps for comprehensive patient care

Screening for care gaps is essential to ensure patients don’t miss critical screenings or treatments. With Insights AI from Birdeye, healthcare providers can analyze patient data to uncover gaps in care and automatically send personalized reminders for missed screenings or follow-up treatments. This tool ensures that patients stay updated with their care plans and reduces the risk of serious health complications due to missed appointments.

18. Real-time referrals for quick patient connections

Birdeye’s Referrals helps providers quickly and accurately refer patients to the right specialists or healthcare providers based on their needs. Automating this process reduces wait times for patients and ensures that they are connected to the appropriate care team, improving their overall health experience.

Having explored these tools, it’s clear that better digital patient engagement tools go beyond simply implementing a few solutions. To truly improve health outcomes, healthcare providers must integrate these tools into a cohesive strategy that addresses the needs of each patient. The ultimate goal is to ensure patients feel supported, informed, and motivated to participate in their health.

Frequently asked questions on patient engagement tools in healthcare services

Boost patient engagement with Birdeye’s GenAI solutions

Implementing patient engagement tools is essential for driving better outcomes and improving satisfaction. However, managing and optimizing these efforts can be challenging without the right resources. Birdeye’s GenAI solutions offer a seamless way to enhance digital patient engagement tools and automate processes that empower both patients and providers.

With Birdeye, you can improve patient engagement with:

• Messaging AI – Easily communicate with patients across the best patient engagement platforms, such as text, social media, and web chat, from a single inbox. Automate responses to ensure timely and personalized interactions.
• Reviews AI – Effortlessly generate reviews from patients to showcase their positive experiences, helping to build trust and improve your clinic’s reputation online.
• Surveys AI – Automate patient feedback collection and gain actionable insights to continuously improve the quality of care.
• Listings AI – Ensure your clinic’s information is accurate and visible across hundreds of online directories, boosting your SEO ranking and making it easier for patients to find you.
• Insights AI – Analyze patient engagement and patient interaction health data to uncover trends, optimize strategies, and drive better outcomes for patient care.

Incorporating GenAI into your patient engagement strategy improves efficiency and helps you forge stronger relationships with your patients. Using GenAI-powered tools for personalized communication, multilingual support, and task automation will enhance patient experience, reduce staff workload, and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes.

Tools like Birdeye’s GenAI solutions can help you streamline patient engagement through automated messaging, surveys, reviews, and more, allowing you to focus on what matters most: patient care.

Watch a free demo today to see how Birdeye’s GenAI solutions can transform your patient engagement strategy.