5 Advantages of Unified Communications in Healthcare
Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is a cloud-based communications system that combines multiple tools or businesses and organizations. By integrating communications tools into one simple, accessible platform, companies and institutions can benefit from modern, interactive, effective network solutions. Communications are vital within the healthcare sector. In this article, we’ll discuss the advantages of using unified communications in healthcare.
Examples of unified communications services include:
- Voice
- Text/SMS
- Video calling (such as Zoom)
- Web conferencing
- Collaboration tools (including Slack, Glip, and Microsoft Teams)
Examples of add-ons include:
- CRM integration
- CCaaS integration
- Accounting tools
- IVR (interactive voice response)
- Call recording
- AI/ Sentiment
The Top 5 Advantages of Unified Communications in Healthcare
Unified communications (UC) offers several advantages for organizations and providers that operate within the healthcare industry. These include:
Bringing Teams Together
The primary benefit of unified communications is bringing teams and departments together. This is increasingly important when remote work is becoming more commonplace and virtual services, including telehealth, are becoming more popular.
Using UCaaS is an effective means to facilitate seamless communication between individuals and groups, no matter where they are in the world. The healthcare sector extends far beyond conventional surgeries, clinics, and hospitals today, and communications systems must be flexible, adaptable, and agile. A 2022 survey revealed that almost 60% of medical practices managed hybrid workforces in 2021 (source).
Modern systems reflect employee mobility and cater to the demands of a diverse range of providers and organizations. Communication tools enable healthcare professionals to share documents with others, discuss results and bring other experts in while also providing quick, seamless, safe ways to update and store records and share information.
Reducing Expenses
Unified communications can reduce expenses for healthcare organizations. The use of cloud systems contributes to ongoing savings and improved efficiency. By embracing cutting-edge UCaaS services, providers can eliminate hardware costs and lower capital investment on equipment while benefiting from cohesive, responsive, flexible communications tools. These are major benefits for healthcare practices operating on a tight budget.
Increasing Flexibility and Scalability
The healthcare sector is evolving. Communications systems and tools need to be flexible and adjustable to enable businesses and practices to capitalize on new ways of working and innovations. Healthcare has changed due to advances in technology and changing consumer habits. By utilizing unified communications, organizations can benefit from greater flexibility in terms of how teams connect, interact and engage with patients, manage and share data, and lastly, how and where employees operate.
The healthcare sector covers a diverse range of practices, companies, and organizations. The industry as a whole is growing. Statistics suggest that the sector will grow by around 6% between 2021 and 2025 (source). To expand and diversify, organizations need to be able to scale their systems. Unified communications offer scalability for every practice or provider. There is flexibility to scale up or down in line with demand, requirements, and preferences.
Patient Experience
The customer (or patient) experience (CX) has never been more critical for businesses that provide healthcare services. Patients today make choices based on service and reputation, as well as the quality and affordability of care. Over 70% of people now use reviews to find a doctor. This figure rises to over 80% among female web users (source).
Using communication tools and services in unison offers incredible benefits for patients accessing health services. Healthcare professionals have sophisticated tools to engage with patients seamlessly, saving time and effort when accessing records for improved continuity of care. Patients can make and manage appointments online and take advantage of services, such as video consultations and calls to save time, money, and effort and reduce waiting times.
Enhanced Security
Healthcare organizations face unique challenges in terms of security and compliance. There are additional rules and regulations in place to protect sensitive data, and companies must also be aware of threats.
Healthcare data breaches hit an all-time high. Unified communications offer superior privacy, and it can also help teams to ensure that they are fully compliant in terms of data protection.
Unified communications offer several advantages in healthcare. Utilizing tools in unison can help your business to improve performance, boost efficiency, bring teams and departments together, and enhance patient and employee experiences. You can also reduce expenses and improve flexibility, scalability, and security by working with an experienced, reliable UCaaS provider.
Optimize your Communications with UCaaS
In today’s world, UCaaS is the leading service for telecommunication. Soon, most businesses’ technology will be modified or built to operate as UCaaS. It’s critical for the efficiency and effectiveness of your business to be operating with modern technology — especially when you work in the healthcare industry and deal with sensitive information.
Let Millennia help with your telecommunication needs to keep your healthcare business efficient, safe, and prepared for growth. We’ll learn about your organization, listen to your needs and goals, and implement a UCaaS plan that serves them. Contact us today, and let’s talk about your communications.
