Is it important for organizations like hospitals to advertise? Well, let's hope to find our answers here. Every product or service that we use in our daily life is a result of many marketing strategies. Marketing is a powerful way of educating people about your excellence, expertise and existence in regards to your field. To earn people's attention, people need to know how you can help them with their issues and to do this, marketing is very much the tool.

There are several ways to marketing and they can be divided into 2 categories:

The modern way of marketing
The traditional way of marketing

The modern way of marketing, living in an era where everything is digital, modern is nothing but digital. Online hospital marketing can connect you with people online in unexpected ways. Here are a few ways to do online hospital marketing.

Website: They say a website is the online house of any business and it for sure is. A website should people tell people everything about the hospital, and a well-structured website will always keep the traffic engaged. The names of doctors who work at the hospital with their speciality, the services provided, and sharing of testimonials will help the hospital connect with people. Most millennials tend to search for more information about the hospital online before booking an appointment. Moreover, they prefer booking appointments online.

Blogs: Lately, people have become more aware and conscious about personal health. Insightful healthcare blogs will help you connect with readers online. Studies say more than 5% of google searches are about health. Encourage your doctors to write insightful blogs on important healthcare topics that people are curious to learn.

Social media post: Social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram have the most engaging network. Online hospital marketing on these platforms can do a great profit for your organization. People online want to relate to content, so post content that you believe in, wish to raise awareness about and which will prove helpful to people. Such content will create your brand identity among huge groups of people and will reach a large audience across networks.

Video insights: Video contents are a highly engaging form of content these days. It is seen that people prefer short and informative video content more than written content. This format of content will make your network feel interactive with you.

Email and SMS: Emails and SMS are a personalized way of marketing and approaching your patients. Send them emails that they can relate to, like health tips or diet plans, or blog articles relating to their issues. Send them follow-up appointment reminders or tell them about the camps or discounts you are conducting via SMS.

In the traditional way of marketing, as a hospital, you don't just see people of one demographic but many countless demographics like different ages, genders, backgrounds, and more. And It's possible to have a demographic of people who don't belong on digital platforms, and that is literally why traditional marketing is important.

Print media: Printing in newspapers and magazines is not new, but it has still got its value. These mediums have a strong base of the audience who are regular and believe in them. Contributing health-based articles to them will give you a great reach and identity among its audience.

Camps: Camps are conducted for the greater good cause, but they also help in building brand identity and goodwill. Conduct camps like full health check-ups on World Health Day blood donation camps on World Blood Day or children's health check-up camps on Children's day. Such camps will help you connect with new people.

Standees: Stands? Really? An eye-catching illustration or quote will make its place in viewers' minds. Health-based quotes, tips, or creative illustrations on a standee will make your brand known to even people who are just reading by. Such creatives tend to stay in people’s minds much longer.

Word of mouth: Make sure to give the utmost patient satisfaction to all your patients as word of mouth can bring in new patients to your hospital, and build your reputation and goodwill. Treat your employee in the right way as they are just as important as your patients in your hospital.

Television: Television ads are usually preferred for some big announcements like branch openings. Go for television ads only when you find the real need for it as they are the costliest form of advertising. Most hospitals prefer to advertise for a month or two and advertise only in the regions they exist.

So how will these hospital marketing strategies help in scaling up the productivity of your hospital?

With every possible information available digitally on your fingertips, people want to learn about the brand, product, and service before going for it. They want to learn about your experience, knowledge, and speciality in the field. As a hospital, you need to let people learn about you and from you, and you do this through the various ways of marketing. This way, new people will prefer to walk up to you for consultation and treatment purposes, resulting in an increase in the productivity of the hospital.

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Hospitals are rarely a single department entity. They usually span multiple specialties focusing on different treatment areas, such as pediatrics, neurosciences, gynecology, etc.

There are also various departments taking care of the day-to-day running of the hospital, such as maintenance, accounting, billing, operation theatre, and management. Each of these departments consists of many people carrying out various tasks, ranging in complexity from brain surgeries to fixing overhead lamps.

A single organization may have hospitals across multiple locations, making it difficult to manage them all. A hospital management system helps you manage the enormous complexities of efficiently managing the hospital sustainably.

Even though hospitals span several different areas, in the beginning, it usually involves only a few departments and just the primary number of people required to manage them all.

In such a case, a simple management system with the capacity to deal with relatively less data would work. But as a hospital starts growing, incorporating more specialties and treatment facilities, this system may not be able to deal with the massive flow of data.

A hospital management system could make this process much faster and easier.

As the number of departments and employees grows, the management system would also extend to accommodate the conditions created by the growth, thus aiding the development of the hospital instead of being a hindrance.

Scale up - The role of a cloud-based system

A cloud-based online system has many advantages compared to an offline system regarding scaling up. Instead of making changes in all systems in a hospital network, the differences would have to be made only by the software providers. They could easily be updated to add more departments and employees without reinstalling the updated version in all the systems in a hospital. And since the software and its interface remain the same, there is no need to allocate extra resources to train the users.

A cloud-based system would also be much more efficient in the case of hospitals in multiple locations. The data generated from all the hospitals run by the same organization could be integrated and analyzed to improve overall performance. As new sites come up, the software is updated, and the existing management network can seamlessly integrate without additional training.

This option would allow for better purchase decisions, as requirements for the entire chain of hospitals could be understood and remedied in bulk, thus helping make much better business transactions and improving efficiency for the whole network.

Resource management and reduction of wastage :

A sound hospital management system would also help prevent unwanted waste of resources. Efficient management of the various equipment and disposables inventory would cut short the resources otherwise wasted. In scaling up, there is usually an increased wastage of resources due to purchasing excess materials to prevent a shortage. With an efficient system, such wastages could easily be detected and avoided. This option could provide a smooth scale-up from a small hospital to an extensive network without excessive spending.

Scaling up - Understanding the data generated :

A common problem associated with the scaling up of any system is the overwhelming amount of data generated from the various subsystems. Every bit of data has to be analyzed and compiled in a manner that is easy to understand to make correct decisions at every corner. A scale-up could be a headache for a hospital with a large amount of data generated without an adequate system to manage the data.

An efficient hospital management system would make this entire process a cakewalk by managing the data generated in real time smoothly and quickly. In a sound hospital management system, all the data from the various departments regarding all the matters from procurement of materials, human resources, and energy requirements to billing, accounting, and inventory management is compiled and represented in a meaningful manner.

This leads to a quicker and easier decision-making process and, therefore, a more accessible, smoother, and efficient scale-up.

Management of the extra human resources required for scale-up :

The efficient running of a hospital requires that all the stakeholders play their roles, and to enable this; they should be able to manage their work quickly and intuitively. A sound hospital management system allows smooth work delegation and easy access to the information required for the task.

For example, it should allow a doctor to enter information regarding a patient and their treatment regime and enable the pharmacist to track the inventory quickly. With an efficient system, it would also be able to evaluate the work done by them. Such easy management of the entire workforce, without causing any hindrance to them, but help them with this, would enable the hospital to grow.

In short, a sound hospital management system would make it easier to scale up the hospital network by efficiently managing the resources, avoiding waste, creating an efficient workforce, and better data management. Such a system could provide hassle-free patient care, making everyone’s work much more manageable.

Scalable Hospital Management S...

Hospitals are rarely a single department ent.....

When you decide to implement a hospital management system in your hospital, the next step is to decide which system you want to use. Even though researching on the internet and going through the product catalogs of many software providers may tell you what to look for and what features are offered by different companies, it may not give you a complete picture. This is where an HMS product demonstration will be useful. Most companies provide free hospital management systems demos to prospective clients. A free demonstration of the software is an excellent way of knowing what exactly you will be getting when you finally purchase the software. It is like taking a test drive before you buy a car, and like a test drive, you need to know how to best know the software during the demo.

Understand your hospital

For getting a good hospital management software demo, the first step is to get a complete understanding of your hospital. Since you have already decided to get an HMS, you must have done most of your homework. But you need to know what features you will need when you implement the HMS. For HMS to achieve its full potential, the system should meet the requirements of all the users from the hospital administrator, to the lab technicians. To ensure this, discussions will have to be held with the users to get their input. The benefits of these discussions are two-fold. The requirements of different departments will be different and you will be able to know what everyone wants. The other benefit is that the employees of the hospital may have previous experience in using different kinds of HMS, and you will get a lot of insights into the advantages and drawbacks of different systems. And this information will come in handy while getting the demonstration.

Having a thorough understanding of the workflow is also very important. Usually, different department heads will have their ways of managing their departments. This is important both while getting a hospital software demo, as well as when you are implementing the system. Most HMS systems are customized around the workflow in a hospital, and company representatives will need to get a fair idea to provide you with a good solution. So it’s better to have all the answers ready when you’re getting the HMS demo. This will also help you when you implement an HMS system in your hospital

Online demo

Software providers sometimes provide demos on their websites, and this is a way for you to know the software before a face-to-face demo. You can use these online demos to learn the general features of the HMS system. Once you have gone through this demo, you will know what questions you have to ask the company representative. Online demos are free and the least time-consuming way to evaluate software, even though they may not be complete.

Questions you should ask

Once you have talked to other hospitals that have implemented HMS or if you’re already using an HMS, you are probably aware of the general features all the HMS systems have. So before the demo, you need to keep in mind the problems at your hospital you’re trying to solve, and the features you’ll need to use this. The problems could be the ones faced by doctors or patients, such as difficulty in scheduling appointments, or they could be business problems, such as low returns or pilferage from the pharmacy.

A hospital management system demo usually takes around 45 minutes and starts with an introduction to the software company. After this, the company representative may ask you about the problems you are facing. Most companies are willing to customize their software for your needs, and you have to make the best use of this. Once you have explained the difficulties your hospital is facing, the representatives will probably explain some of the features they have that can solve these issues. During the demo, if you’re already aware of the general features, it is better to focus on these key features to make a good decision.

There are no set rules on how a demo is conducted, so ask all the questions you have regarding the software. The point of getting a demo is not to make a decision then and there, but to understand all the features of the software. It’s also vital that all the stakeholders understand the software before making a decision, so have representatives from all the departments for the demo. Before deciding on a system, get demos from multiple companies, compare the software, and then decide.

To learn more about HMS systems and get a demo, visit Mocdoc Hospital Information Management System

Hospital Management System Dem...

When you decide to implement a hospital management.....

When searching for software, almost everyone looks for free ones. If you simply type in the name of any random software, you’ll probably see a google autocomplete suggestion “free download”. In some cases, it does make a lot of sense in using free software. Why pay for something when you can get it for free?

Searches for downloading free EMR software have increased with government legislation mandating their use in hospitals. Let us look into why this is a bad idea.

If you’re not paying for it, you’re the product

As a general rule, nobody ever gives you something for free. As economists would say, “If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product”. In the case of most free software, this is the case. Recently it was found that most of the free antivirus apps in the Google Play store actually did nothing. Their purpose? Probably to collect data from your device. This may not affect an average person very much, but if you’re concerned about privacy, you should probably stay away from these software. And when you’re dealing with a hospital management software, this is a key aspect. Data security is a very important aspect especially when you handle patient data. A data leak, however small has the potential to damage the reputation of your hospital.

Lack of accountability

A hospital management system has to have certain qualifications that assure you that a particular software can fit your needs. When you purchase a software, it is possible for you to verify if these software fit the criteria. But when you download a software for free, there is no way for you to be sure if these software fit the criteria. And since there is no monetary transaction between you and the software provider, it will be difficult to hold them accountable.

The lack of accountability will be an issue if the software faces any glitches. If the software crashes, customer support is not provided for the system, and you will be on your own. A software glitch in a free android app may be annoying, and will not cause any huge problems even if is not resolved. In case of a hospital, the software handles sensitive patient information and a software glitch can compromise this data, and with no tech support from the providers, it can cause a lot of problems.

Upgrades? Nope

As government regulations change, and as the technology improves, you may face the need for a better software. If you’re relying on a free software for very important tasks, such as managing your hospital, you may find yourself stuck with an old software. Free software rarely provide any upgrades for long durations. And when you want an upgrade, you may find yourself searching for a new software, and you’ll have to import the existing data into the new software which will require additional resources.

The story of the open source software

A commonly trusted free software are the open source software. Ubuntu is an example of an open source software. They are usually made by developers across the world, and their source code is available for free, and you’re free to change or modify the code as you wish. Since the source code is available for everyone, it is unlikely that the software can have malicious intents. And as long as the developers continue to improve the software, it will remain up to date with the required features. Open source software appears to offer a very good deal, and they do, in the case of most of the software. But in the case of a hospital management system, it is never a good idea to use an open source software. This is because of a combination of reasons discussed above. First of all, there are no hospital management software with the kind of community that a software like Ubuntu has. If you face any issues, you’re on your own. In the case of popular softwares, there may be forums in which users can discuss issues, and they may get resolved. But for a hospital management software, there are no such forums, and when you’re managing a hospital, you cannot afford to wait for a solution that may never come. And as we discussed, updates will be available for open source software only as long as the developers are working on the project.

What about the free trials?

If you have been looking for free HMS downloads, you may have come across many SaaS healthcare software companies offering lite or trial versions of their software for free, or maybe the complete version of their software, but for a limited time period. These software are generally secure and will be much more robust than software from other software providers. They may even offer regular updates. But remember that these trial versions are just for that. They will be severely limited in their capabilities, and you will definitely have to upgrade at some point. And the providers may not provide tech support if you’re using the free version. But they do provide an easy way to evaluate a software and if available, they serve as a demo for the complete version.

Lack of customization

Generally across hospitals, or even across departments, there is no uniform workflow. Each department head has their own workflows, and this is the reason why hospital management systems are highly customized. However such customization is not at all possible in a hospital management system, and if implemented, could affect the functioning of the hospital and may prove to be counterproductive.

To know more about hospital management software, visit MocDoc Hospital Information System.

Why you should never download ...

When searching for software, almost everyone looks.....

Billing software is one of the essential software used in the healthcare industry. It is also called the medical practitioner's lifeline. Therefore, you must choose the right hospital billing software that offers a fantastic reporting system to manage the cash flow as well as the payment time speed.

The new hospital billing software helps to manage both insurance needs as well as patient payment reliably which is not included in other software.

Uses of Hospital Billing Software in HMS:

Each part of the Hospital Management System is integrated and automated effortlessly, and it also provides the opportunity to move forth and back from different data and reports.

There is no loss of bills and data.
Secure and safe reporting system.
There is a financial dashboard that tracks the practice's health efficiently.

The web-based practice management is used for managing and collecting the bill from any place efficiently, you can use and maintain this software in every area where it suits you best.

Automated Data backup is enabled.
You can view your daily schedule from anywhere.

You can easily understand the financial practice health of the practitioners, and the report makes it easy and efficient. The user features are used for deciding the right information to share.

The software offers Enabled visualizations in the form of figures and graphs.
You can track revenue, payer performance, and related ones.
You can easily customize and display them in the Excel format.
The software can deliver a report on a daily or monthly basis as per the requirements.

What are the Types of Billing in HMS?

Various departments use billing in the Hospital Management system to improve the billing facilities in the hospitals. Some of them include

Registration and Consulting Billing
Pharmacy Billing
Laboratory Billing
In-Patient Billing

Registration and consulting Billing:

Hospital billing software prebooks appointments for the patients they provided in advance for both follow-up patients as well as new patients.
Hospital billing software generates bills for the certified lab and radiology services.

Pharmacy Billing:

Our pharmacy billing software deals with providing the retail sales of medical supervision to OPD patients, and customers and also helps with the issue of medicines to the hospital inpatients. Our pharmacy billing software has the following features.

Able to offer an extensive collection of available drugs for clinicians.
Able to sort out the alternative drugs for the drugs that are not available.
The software aids in interfacing with a database of drugs.
Our software pops up the drug allergy alerts easily.
The billing software interfaced for dispatch along with the pneumatic tube.

Laboratory Billing Software:

The laboratory billing software helps to disseminate and record the information of the different performed tests. Here are some of the salient features of our laboratory billing software.

Test setup and do the services.
Excels different tests and diagnostic packages.
Offers the resulting process from the sample collection process, recheck process, and fetch from analyzer data.
The software does the recheck with the Sample Collections.
Our billing software offers the status update of the labs after a clear analysis.
The software works as per the NABL standards.
The software comes with a dashboard for TAT, authorization, progress works, tests, and parameters.

In-patient Billing Software:

The software takes care of the patients who are allocated in the ward bed after registration, and this deals with complete services and treatment offered to the patients while they stay in the hospital.

The features of our in-patient billing software include:

The software is capable of taking place the conversion from OP to IP.
The software takes care of the patients by allocating the beds, offers consultation for intern departments, tracks patients in the hospitals, and deals with bed transfers.
The software maintains the patient billing sheets.
The software comes with a dashboard for discharge summaries, patient access, billing audits, activities, and much more.

Track Profit and Loss Statements Easily:

The Hospital Management system products come with tally integrations, and therefore you can easily track and manage the expenses. The billing software in the Hospital Management system also monitors both the profit and loss statements so that you can quickly identify what lags in your Hospital information management.

Things to know about Hospital ...

Billing software is one of the essential software .....

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