It’s not uncommon for patients to skip their follow-up appointments with doctors, and there are many reasons for it. Sometimes, when their symptoms go away, patients may assume they no longer need the treatment. Or they could be just too busy to remember the follow-up appointment.
EMR for doctors can improve patient engagement and retention by allowing better patient communication throughout the treatment process, including sending reminders for follow-ups.
Why are Follow-up Appointments Crucial for Doctors and Patients?
When patients don’t return for subsequent appointments, it disrupts their treatment process, not to mention the loss of valuable time for the concerned doctors. Even the best doctors can’t ensure continuity of quality medical care if they can’t keep up with their patients after the initial session.
A patient that doesn’t receive end-to-end care for their health issues may end up in a worsened condition down the road. As a result, patient care is severely compromised.
Furthermore, this can negatively impact the doctor’s reputation and long-term relationship with the patient.
Hence, patients must seek the full treatment course, especially the high-risk ones.