What Rendia readers found most interesting on our blog
The year and the decade are coming to a close. A lot has changed in health care during that time, and we here at Rendia covered many of the changes, challenges, and innovations on our blog. In 2019, as in past years, we found that our readers were especially interested in new treatments and therapies, particularly in eye care. But this year our top posts also revealed an increased interest in meeting the needs of all patients. Read on to find out what posts got the most attention over the past 12 months.
Wait time still a concern
How much time patients spend waiting for their appointments is a major concern—both for them and for doctors. So it should come as no surprise that one of our top posts was 3 Missed Opportunities in Your Waiting Area. While the average wait time has decreased in recent years to just over 18 minutes, it’s not the amount of time but patients’ perception of that time that really matters.
While the average wait time has decreased, it’s patients’ perception of that time that really matters. Are you missing opportunities in your waiting room?
Check out the post for best practices on educating patients while they wait, promoting products and services patients may not be aware of, and boosting referrals by encouraging patients to “like” and review your practice on social media. And for more help on related topics, don’t miss two of our other popular posts last year: How to Measure Patient Satisfaction in Your Practice and How to Capture Compelling Patient Testimonials.
Helping underserved patients
Speaking of missed opportunities, another post that sparked a lot of reader interest was How Poverty and Location Limit Access to Health Care. As a society, we are becoming more aware of social and economic issues and their effect on health, so it makes sense that doctors are curious about what they can do to help the patients in poor rural and urban communities who need them most.
It turns out, the best practices for helping low-income patients are the same strategies doctors should use to provide better care for all patients.
The good news is that the best practices for dealing with low-income patients are the same strategies to provide better care for all patients. These include being aware of patients’ cultural backgrounds and primary languages, and being transparent about health care costs. Read the entire post for more tips and tools that offer effective solutions.
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While solo practices in the U.S. are declining overall, some doctors are still opening independent practices in underserved areas, motivated by the opportunity for financial success or for altruistic reasons. Check out how solo practitioners stay competitive and build support in our post, How to Succeed in Solo Practice in 2019.
Guest blogger shares eye care expertise
In 2019, we were honored to continue our partnership with an expert guest blogger: Paul M. Karpecki, OD, FAAO, Director of Cornea Services at Kentucky Eye Institute in Lexington, Ky. and Director of the OSD Clinic for Gaddie Eye Centers in Louisville, Ky. Dr. Karpecki also currently serves as the Chief Clinical Editor for Review of Optometry, the most-read journal in the profession, is director of clinical content, and chairs the New Technology and Treatment Conferences.
Rendia readers were interested in new treatments and drug approvals in eye care.
Dr. Karpecki shared his expertise in a number of posts, including New Treatment Options for Blepharitis, which has only fairly recently been linked to dry eye. Early diagnosis is key, and currently only one in-office treatment exists.
Rendia readers were also interested in Dr. Karpecki’s post on New Drug Approvals in Eye Care. These included a new ocular corticosteroid for post-surgical patients that uses a revolutionary drug delivery technology, and a breakthrough treatment for a rare and progressive corneal disease.
Dr. Karpecki also wrote about a soon-to-be-approved drug for Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), the second-most common source of optic nerve damage after glaucoma, in his post, A Treatment for an ‘Untreatable’ Blinding Condition.
Rendia is committed to providing our customers with information, resources, and tools to help them improve patient experience and achieve greater efficiency in their practices. It’s a mission we will continue to carry out in the New Year.