Learn all about the vision, mission as well as the people who shape CompuGroup Medical worldwide.
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CompuGroup Medical (CGM) highlights the role of digital tools towards improving patient engagement and health outcomes for physicians. With over 20 years in the industry, CGM has the practical experience that will help shape the future of medical practices, combined with the knowledge and skills to ensure that physicians stay ahead.
The medical field is changing, underscored by the escalating prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide. In a study led by Ms Rifqah Roomaney and Dr Victoria-Pillay van Wyk from the SAMRC’s Burden of Diseases Research Unit, they reveal that an alarming one in five South Africans currently suffer from more than one chronic disease. Additionally, South Africa grapples with a dual challenge of effectively managing HIV while contending with an expanding burden of non-communicable diseases. This growing burden encompasses a spectrum of ailments, including stroke and heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, arthritis, hypertension, and tuberculosis, comprising the top 10 prevailing conditions.
In an unprecedented era of chronic conditions, the significance of effective patient engagement has reached new heights. These conditions require an increased level of interaction between a patient and their health care provider, as well as more frequent appointments and follow-up care. While patients have more access to information about their conditions than ever before, they rely on their physician to provide personalised guidance on practical application to their own lives.
Recognising the pivotal role of patient engagement in achieving improved health outcomes, CGM prioritises fostering positive connections with patients. Understanding that every patient is unique and deserves to be heard and supported throughout their health journey, CGM focuses on building enduring doctor-patient relationships. Not only does it build long-term doctor-patient relationships, but it also improves customer satisfaction, boosts practice efficiency and even offers the practice new revenue opportunities. With digital products at every patient touchpoint, CGM makes it their mission to streamline the patient experience every step of the way.
We leverage our global experience with South African intelligence to place world-class digital healthcare in the hands of local practitioners. Our digital toolkit is specifically designed for practice managers and enables them to take control of their practices and engage more meaningfully with their patients.
There are many online tools for modern medical practices, such as online bookings and video consults as well as apps to manage chronic conditions. With so many on the market, it’s hard to know which ones will work for a specific practice setup.
We have identified a few apps key to patient engagement:
Given the way in which we engage with technology, it's no surprise that patients are turning to digital solutions for their healthcare needs. They start their search for a GP or specialist online and turn to Dr Google for their symptoms, often before consulting a doctor.
It's clear that medical practices that are not online, are invisible to the digital generation. With the ease and low-cost of building a simple website, there’s no excuse for not having an online presence. In addition to listing locations and contacts, a practice website is a highly effective marketing tool that showcases practitioner specialisation and services. Avily’s HPCSA compliant website allows practitioners to share information about common conditions and treatment, enabling patients to make informed decisions about their care.
Patient engagement studies show that offering online bookings, patient education on common and chronic diseases helps to improve patient engagement and establish long-term relationships with patients over time.
Recomed, a mobile-friendly booking platform, makes it easy for patients to make bookings at any time, from anywhere. Integrating with most Practice Management System diaries, including CGM MEDEDI, Recomed coordinates and automates practice scheduling, putting an end to communication back and forth and missed appointments.
By joining South Africa's fastest growing practitioner network healthcare practitioners can also get discovered by new patients.
CGM’s “Perfect Pair” has everything one expects from a mature Practice Management System. With its centralised toolkit, plus electronic health records - it empowers staff and eases administration woes. Its secure repository coordinates multiple practice functions allowing for a seamless flow of information within the digital healthcare environment.
Dilip Naran, VP of CGMs product solutions states that “modern healthcare applications must allow for secure integrations to enable the exchange of clinical patient information and billing details within the platform.”
“The Perfect Pair is a one-stop-shop for practice and financial management. Practice managers can register patients, process bills and accomplish routine finance and billing tasks; everything from diary management to in-depth reporting in one place,” he adds.
“It really is important that practices transition to digital health records, which is why the Perfect Pair is the ideal tool for modern healthcare practices. Practitioners can now update patient data in Practice Perfect and through a click-of-a-button, the bill is processed through the MEDEDI application, making it even easier to streamline day-to-day operations,” concludes Naran.
With multimorbid chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer on the rise locally, we need to encourage the use of chronic disease management (CDM) apps such as WebMD’s symptom tracker. Not only are lifelong sufferers empowered to read up on and monitor their condition, but they’ll also receive reminders about medication and follow-up appointments, enhancing the support for their condition, and improving patient engagement.
Advanced e-scripts for secure and convenient prescriptions
An essential instrument in the practice toolkit, ICANSCRIPT encourages chronic patients to stay on course with treatment. Doctors can now digitally sign secure prescriptions to ensure uninterrupted patient care and adherence to medication.
ICANSCRIPT is South Africa's only qualified scripting platform that issues advanced electronic scripts for any schedule of medicine and sends e-scripts in real-time to a pharmacy network to deliver directly to patients. Doctors can rest assured that their patients get the medication when and where they need it.
An essential instrument in the practice toolkit, ICANSCRIPT encourages chronic patients to stay on course with treatment. Doctors can now digitally sign secure prescriptions to ensure uninterrupted patient care and adherence to medication.
ICANSCRIPT is South Africa's only qualified scripting platform that issues advanced electronic scripts for any schedule of medicine and sends e-scripts in real-time to a pharmacy network to deliver directly to patients. Doctors can rest assured that their patients get the medication when and where they need it.
The market for health, fitness and diet apps has exploded. Particularly useful for chronic sufferers, these enable patients to stick to treatment plans and to better monitor and manage their conditions. Popular tools include:
These are just a few ideas to ready the modern practice for more meaningful patient engagement. With the right tool at every patient touchpoint, CGM has what the small physician practice needs to stay ahead.
It's time to go digital - to meet the needs and expectations of patients, stay competitive and provide high-quality healthcare. It’s time to make the switch.
With our smart technology and ongoing support, we empower millions of practitioners around the world to strive for new standards in healthcare.
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