At HIMSS 21, one of the most frequently discussed topics we heard on the show floor was focused around ‘Digital Front Door Solutions’. Turns out ‘digital front door’ isn’t just a cute catchphrase, healthcare organizations are starting to truly understand the value of understanding a patient’s journey, and making sure they have a digital presence that aligns with new trends as patients begin the process of gathering information and getting treatment. 

The digital front door movement is about understanding how patients are searching for treatment in the digital age, and understanding the increased demand for digital health solutions that has been greatly accelerated due to patients seeking treatment while trying to stay safe and protected from COVID-19. 

Healthcare Companies Utilize Digital Tools and Connections to Increase Patient Engagement

Healthcare has always been behind when it comes to adopting cutting-edge technology but in the time of COVID-19, more companies are realizing that they must adapt to the rapidly changing times. Recently there was news WebMD is making moves, shifting from a purely informational website to more of a digital health information platform that helps healthcare consumers find and schedule appointments with doctors. This is part of a new and growing trend where healthcare organizations better utilize search engine optimization and health content to try to drive consumers to a health system’s “digital front door” to get connected directly to providers and scheduling appointments. 

Consumers are being conditioned to have greater expectations when it comes to conveniences. We live in the age of Amazon, and we expect to find what we are looking for and choose when to have it delivered within a very short time window. Not only are patients expecting more conveniences, but they also are fearful of visiting healthcare facilities and exposing themselves to COVID-19. In order to limit unnecessary exposures, they are turning to healthcare providers and organizations that have digital solutions that help them limit physical interaction while maximizing care. 

These digital front door solutions are a product of these trends and a concerted effort of healthcare organizations that understand they can help meet these demands by partnering together with technology companies, and integration partners and create a faster, more seamless experience for patients. 

Get an Experienced Integration Partner For Your Digital Front Door Solution Plan

In order to meet these new high expectations of healthcare delivery and the patient’s desire for digital solutions, it is important that healthcare organizations planning on implementing a digital front door solution, have the ability to exchange data with patients, partner organizations, and EHRs quickly and easily. For those who still are using legacy data formats, that can be a heavy lift. How are you going to be able to connect to HL7 and FHIR endpoints without massive investments in infrastructure and internal developers? That is where utilizing solutions like Zen’s Gemini Integration-as-a-Service can provide you with flexible options for scaling and connecting with digital front door solutions and other data exchange partners. Let Zen handle the data translation for you, utilizing the formats your systems support. 

Telehealth solutions, mobile apps, and expanding your digital footprint are going to continue to be a way for your organization to keep up with the needs and expectations of your patients. As you look to build out these capabilities, it is critical that you partner with an experienced Healthcare IT organization that has a deep understanding of what to prepare for in terms of integrations and interoperability challenges that will arise as you work through the process. 

Think About Digital Front Door Integrations Early In the Process

Too often, interoperability is the last piece of the puzzle that organizations try to fix once all the other pieces are in place, but this is a recipe for delays and failed projects. If you are having conversations about the need to build out your own digital front door strategy, please keep Zen in mind as a partner that can help you accomplish your connectivity goals. Zen flexes to the specific needs of our clients to better “meet them where they are” in the process. 

Whether you have a large dedicated internal team that just needs the right tools to fast track integrations, or if you are hoping to have a completely “hands-off” approach to and let Zen’s engineers build and manage your integrations, we have the solution to help you accomplish your goals. 

Suggested Reading:

Key Steps for Opening the Digital Front Door, Digital Transformation

Why the Digital Front Door is Critical to the Healthcare Revenue Cycle

Knock, Knock, Knockin’ on the Digital Front Door