Technology is moving quickly and every single business and organisation in the world is having to catch up. If you are the manager of a GP practice then you’ll know that your patients are expecting you to keep up with the times as well. If you’re wondering whether your GP practice is 21^st century enough for your patients then this guide should help put your mind at ease; whilst also providing you with the perfect checklist to catapult you into the modern day.

The GP Practice Website

Having a functional and useful website should be high up on your priority list, especially if you want to keep patients and professionals happy. A good GP practice website should be able to support and engage your patients, whilst also taking the pressure off of reception. Your website should not only look good, but it should function well also. Here are some of the best features to have included on your GP practice website:

• Appointment booking
• Prescription ordering
• Detail services available
• Provide patients with test results
• Leaflet downloads and health articles or advice
• Details of the practice team
• Staff access/intranet services

The final one on this list (intranet services) is another avenue that needs to be investigated if you haven’t done so already. Providing your staff with their own features and functions can greatly improve performance and productivity, whilst making everybody’s life just that little bit easier. Make sure you invest in professional web designers, hosts and intranet specialists to create the perfect GP practice website.

SMS and Text Messaging Services

Most people don’t go anywhere without their mobile phones, which is why more and more GP practices are utilising SMS and text messaging alert services. With these services you can inform patients of their appointment times, send reminders, let them know about events and much more. This can help you cut down on missed appointments, as well as keep your patients happy and in the know. Using the right service can help increase your QOF income, save you money and reduce the pressure on your reception. This service can even be used to gather information from patients, such as their smoking and drinking status. If you’re planning on running a modern practice then this is a must-have! Here are some GP Practice text message providers if you are interested.

Modern Waiting Rooms

It isn’t all about what can be done whilst the patient is out of the practice, it is important to look at modernising the surgery itself. There are various new technologies available that can bring your GP practice into the 21^st century, whilst also being cost effective and improving productivity. Touch screen appointment check-ins are perfect for reducing pressure on reception staff, whilst also providing a friendly customer experience. There are also appointment notification systems that can be streamed through televisions or on LED strips; letting the patient know when they are to go through or how long they may have to wait. This keeps the patient in the know and reduces the time it takes for doctors to collect a patient or for reception staff to answer the question; “How long until I can be seen?”. You can also use television screens to alert patients to current health campaigns and advertise particular services provided by the practice. Long gone are the days of a lonely magazine rack in the waiting room; we’re in the 21^st century after all.

How modern do you feel your GP practice is? Do you believe you have all the necessary technology in order to keep your patients happy and your productivity high? Let us know what you think is the key to modernising your GP practice.