As technology continues to evolve, health referral programmes are always on the lookout for efficient solutions to streamline their operations and improve service delivery. Overwhelmed by the multitude of online form options at their disposal, busy service managers often find themselves trapped in a state of indecision, fearing that they may not make the optimal choice.
Let's take a closer look at the pitfalls, impact, and options to consider when choosing an online form solution that suits your health and wellbeing services.
We can't promise that this blog post will solve all your referral process concerns, but we'll strive to point out the pitfalls and save you making costly mistakes.
Comfort in Familiarity
One of the primary reasons folk stick with well known online forms is simply due to familiarity. Traditional form software has been around for years, and managers have become accustomed to its features and interface. Implementing a new solution requires time and effort to learn and adapt, which may seem daunting to providers already overwhelmed with their day-to-day operations.
Avoid putting your organisation at risk of GDPR violations
It is often the smallest oversights that can lead to major consequences. Imagine this scenario; while a healthy communities member of staff is manually typing in a patient's referral details to a spreadsheet or software system, unexpectedly they called away and inadvertently leave the paperwork or email on view. Depending on their location, the gym or a leisure centre office, the general public could have easy access to this information, which leaves your organisation at risk of breaking GDPR guidelines.
With admin tasks taking up essential staff time, apart from the obvious drain on resources this could leave your organisation vulnerable to manual errors. Even worse, if a secure email containing confidential patient information was sent to someone outside of your team, getting this into the wrong hands would potentially result in a hefty fine.
To address these concerns, ReferAll's webform solution offers a seamless and secure data transfer process. Our tool is securely hosted by ReferAll. When a referral is submitted via your configured webform, the information displays in your organisations platform, in the right scheme and notifies you on the dashboard. Your service will not only save at least 5 minutes per referral of input time, you will have peace of mind knowing that the patient's referral data, and your organisation is protected.
Question: What process do you use to transfer patient referral data to your exercise or health referral programme spreadsheet or software system and why?
Managing change with referring partners
Managing a change rollout can be hard, especially with healthcare partners that have been used to a particular process over a long period of time. To help you bring on-board the changes, keep in mind the 5 C's - culture, communication, challenges, commitment and coordination – they all play a vital role in any change management transition period. For more tips and tricks checkout ReferAll's article ➡️ Cheat Sheet: 5 Key Tips for Partnering with Healthcare Professionals
To sum up
By considering these advantages, service managers can make an informed decision when choosing a webform referral solution. While traditional form software may provide a wide range of templates and question types, it is essential to prioritise data security, accuracy, and time-saving options. With ReferAll's webform solution, service managers can streamline their operations, enhance service delivery, and ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their clients' information.
Until next time, warm regards 😊
Rach
Rachel Stokes | Outreach Lead
P.S. Please don't hesitate to reach out and start a conversation: 📲 
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