What makes history interesting? Is it the struggles of people in the past, or does the ability of others to overcome their obstacles and find their way into the history books inspire you? These questions are important, but they are also indicators of progress and forward-thinking minds. They also reflect the continuing need to create better ways of doing things, and the same concept is true of patient registration forms.
Registration Wasn’t Even Required.
Millenia ago, paper was a luxury, and the concept of medical records did not exist. Seeing a doctor only required talking to and knowing the right people. Over time, much like modern medicine, paper changed how the world cared for others. It enabled people to track their health, and the age of paper-based medical records were born. Patients could fill out family histories, explain their symptoms and greatly reduce the stresses on care providers. However, that idea shifted as well.
Faxing Forms Enabled Sharing of Forms Across Great Distances.
The world grew more connected in the 19th and 20th centuries. International trade, the invention of the automobile and the advancement of flight enabled people to travel great distances without sacrificing months to travel. The ability to send documents electronically through fax machines revolutionized the concept of information sharing. Patients and doctors could share documents from afar, enabling better quality and continuum of care, but with time, the concept of faxing documents would start to disappear.
Email Made Completing Intake Forms Easier.
The internet offered a solution to the security issues found in faxing patient registration forms and intake documents. Patients and doctors could send documents through email, dramatically reducing the time and security issues presented from a wrong number. Of course, the might of the internet quickly turned to trouble as email started to fall victim to junk mail and endless spam folders.
Consumers Demanded a Solution to Email Problems.
The internet seemed to provide the perfect solution to the crisis of emailed patient registration forms, but it was not without its own challenges. Security became a top concern, and the issue of maintaining patient privacy cropped up often. Fortunately, today’s online patient registration forms are enhanced with 256-bit AES encryption and drag-and-drop customization, making the trials of implementing online patient access easier for growing medical and dental practices.
Going paperless is one of the hottest medical trends affecting practices today, and it reflects centuries of evolution in patient intake forms. Schedule a demo at Practice Sense to see how easy it is to create your own online patient forms, or give us a call at 1(800) 619-2955 today.
