Family medicine offices are an important part of the healthcare system, providing primary care at accessible locations. They face a number of challenges, such as physician burnout, the need to improve clinic efficiency and the patient experience, and also the need to increase revenues. New technology and medical check-in software can help them to bring their offices into the 21st century.

Challenges faced by family medicine practices
Family medicine is one of the most important points of contact between patients and the healthcare system. Over one-third or 37.2% of all visits to the doctors office are for primary care, to a general practice, family practice, or internal medicine care. The total number of primary care physicians in the U.S. is 472,560, but most medical facilities here and around the world face staffing shortages. These affect overall efficiency and also contribute to physician burnout.
Physician burnout is a major problem, which affects some 40% of male physicians and 50% of female physicians. Staffing shortages are a major contributor to physician burnout. New technology and digitization of medical facilities can help to improve efficiency and revenues and also reduce provider burnout. Medical software that replaces the old sign-in sheets on a clipboard can transform a practice and the patient experience.

How medical check-in software can help
Family medicine practices are switching over to paperless digital check-in software because of their many benefits for healthcare providers as well as patients. By using medical digital check-in software, they can modernize their operations and workflow, and improve their efficiency. The technology also helps to drive patient engagement. Overall, the improvements help to reduce the problem of physician burnout.
Replacing the sign-in sheet with medical check-in software means that patient information is entered correctly and accurately. This also improves record-keeping, analysis and information sharing. The software can be made available via patient kiosks at the doctor’s office as well as online on mobile devices.

  • Clear and accurate information
    When the patient enters the information into the medical check-in software, this reduces the risk of errors. Because names and other information is typed in rather than written by hand, it does not need to be re-entered, saving time.

  • Information sharing within the practice
    Patient information can be shared within the practice with staff and medical care professionals.

  • Maintaining patient privacy and HIPAA compliance
    Digital patient sign-ins also help to maintain the privacy of the patient information being entered, keeping the practice in compliance with HIPAA requirements.

  • Reporting and analysis
    Patient information is time-stamped as it is entered and contributes to documentation and analysis of the functioning of the practice.

New medical check-in software has many benefits for family medicine practices from the point of view of providers as well as patients. By recording clear and accurate information, it helps in documentation and analysis of operations. This can help improve efficiency and combat the problem of provider burnout.