Why you should include schedules in patient technology

Now what?

It’s a common question patients and their families have while in the hospital.

Anticipating this question, SONIFI Health’s patient engagement platform includes a My Schedule feature that helps your patients, their families, and your staff members.

What is the patient schedule feature?

My Schedule is a widget that appears on standalone digital whiteboards and interactive TVs.

Integrated with your EHR and scheduling system with a standard HL7 interface, the widget automatically shows the details patients want to know: What’s happening next.

It’s an easy-to-understand visualization of a patient’s upcoming procedures, tests, appointments, and consultations.

Our team works with your staff on how to communicate the details patients want to know most, like:

• When & where it will take place
• Who they will see
• How long it will take
• What it is & how it will help

How would the patient schedule feature be used in different settings?

Download this free use case for examples like how it could look in pediatric units and children’s hospitals, orthopedic and med/surg units, and rehab settings.

What’s the benefit of integrating a patient’s schedule with in-room technology?

 

Patient autonomy & preparedness

By providing real-time updates to their schedule on screens they’re already looking at, you’re offering a grounding sense of control during a time when they may feel like they don’t have much.

The patient schedule feature on interactive TVs can include further explanations about what a test is for, what a procedure entails, what specialist a specialist does, and how this will help their condition or recovery.

Using clear, plain language (available in multilingual formats) helps patients really understand not just what is happening, but why.

Giving them the information they’re looking for in a simple format can eliminate confusion and ease anxiety, empowering them to better prepare for their day.

 

 

Fewer non-clinical interruptions

The patient schedule feature proactively answers a lot of questions patients and their families have about tests, procedures, sessions, and specialists.

This reduces the likelihood of them pressing the call light to ask for updates, giving nurses more time to get back to clinical work.

 

Workflow efficiencies

The My Schedule widget is auto-populated directly from your EHR, saving your nurses time from having to make any manual updates to communicate the information.

If an appointment changes, the display will automatically update so patients and their families know right away. This means they don’t have to wait for rounds to find out, and your staff eliminate the redundancy of having to make those updates outside the EHR.

 

Better family & caregiver support

A quick visual reference of a patient’s schedule help their family and caregivers better plan their visits, track care progress, and align their support with the patient’s needs that day.

 

Improved outcomes & HCAHPS

When patients feel informed, educated, and prepared, they’ll be better equipped for follow-up questions about their care and post-discharge instructions for long-term success.

With the integrated SONIFI Health system, patients gain a structured, supportive tool that adapts to changing schedules, improves communications, reduces stress and uncertainty, and increases their ability to participate in their care.