There is no other sector in this world where time plays such an essential part in saving lives other than the healthcare sector. An individual’s health and well-being can change if they receive treatment in a timely manner. In the current world, when influenza outbreaks and pandemics are common, the healthcare sector needs to incorporate technology to improve patient care.
Having said that, the industry already uses a wide range of technology applications. The newest generation of instant messaging apps, like WhatsApp and others, can help the industry and its stakeholders even more, though.
WhatsApp chatbots serve as a communication link between the two parties in the healthcare industry. This guarantees that medical services are provided on time.
Answering queries and FAQs
Customer queries, even if monotonous, are mostly urgent in nature and need quick attention.
Healthcare chatbots with NLP capabilities can comprehend user inquiries and provide timely responses since they have been educated on vast volumes of data. Additionally, they can be linked with internal databases to help them learn and get better at answering questions.
Obtaining medical information
Online consultations were very helpful during the pandemic, when there were many concerns and limitations regarding in-person medical appointments. The WhatsApp chatbot will connect patients with the appropriate physician once they have just shared their symptoms and medical information with it.
Additionally, by doing this, physicians will have access to important information in advance, such as the frequency and severity of symptoms. This will enable them to comprehend the patient’s medical problems more fully.
Booking appointments
WhatsApp chatbots for healthcare can quickly schedule medical appointments according to their availability. Through the use of third-party APIs, the bot may also monitor visits and follow-ups for certain patients.
Integrating chatbots with back-end medical systems allows for the extraction of data regarding suitable doctors, available appointments, clinics, and pharmacy hours. Patients can find the closest hospital or testing facility and make or cancel appointments using WhatsApp chatbots.
Sending Lab Reports via WhatsApp
Healthcare providers are progressively adopting technology in the current digital era to enhance patient care and optimise their operations. The distribution of lab reports via WhatsApp is one example of this innovation. Once an individual’s lab tests are complete and the outcomes are ready, they can be sent directly to the patient’s WhatsApp in a safe and timely way. This removes the need for patients to physically visit the healthcare centre in order to pick up their reports, and it also guarantees instant access to vital health information.
Additionally, AI-powered chatbots can help with basic result interpretation and typical patient questions about the reports. By using WhatsApp to deliver test reports, healthcare practitioners are improving patient-centered, convenient, and accessible healthcare.
Integrated in-chat payments
Recently, WhatsApp ventured into the realm of in-chat payments. Users can now easily conduct financial transactions with others in their contacts thanks to this capability. Although this functionality seems like a standard payment integration, it has more uses in the healthcare industry than it seems.
For instance, the patient may be able to start and finish financial transactions via a single, unified channel. The insurance settlements and claims are also came together in one place ensuring that there is no connect or lack of communication. It simplifies the procedure of getting healthcare and making the necessary payments.
Cross-sell or upsell new healthcare offerings through chatbots
Over the past ten years, the healthcare industry has changed. There are now new offers and services available that aim to maintain and improve patients’ health. Periodical medical examinations, tailor-made dietary programs, exercise regimen tailored to health conditions, etc. have become commonplace.
None of these products follow the traditional path of a prescription from a physician. Rather, consumers are advertised to through in-app messaging. This industry saw a significant shift in 2016 with the launch of Facebook Bots. These days, the tradition is continued by WhatsApp bots. WhatsApp chatbots are able to easily access and grab a large market due to the platform’s continuously expanding user base.
WhatsApp chatbots can help healthcare providers in many ways, from offering and winning consumers to managing all of their communications in one location.
Helps in sending health checkup reminders to patients
The process of providing healthcare is continuous. With a few exceptions, most patients need to return to the doctor for follow-up appointments to make sure their recovery is progressing as planned. One can plan these subsequent meetings with two to three days of period, or as in some cases with an entire week in between. In either case, it is the patient’s responsibility to make sure they show up for the follow-up appointment on time.
This is a challenging task for senior citizens who become somewhat forgetful as they age. They can steer clear of these situations because of medical chatbots. Patients can receive timely reminders from the app when their checkup is about to expire. This will guarantee that the patient has time to prepare for their visit.
FAQs
What is a healthcare-focused AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot?
A virtual assistant that employs artificial intelligence to communicate with patients via WhatsApp and manage appointments, provide medication reminders, and respond to questions is known as an AI-powered WhatsApp chatbot in the healthcare industry.
How can a chatbot on WhatsApp help patients around-the-clock?
The chatbot is constantly accessible to answer questions, give details about medical professionals and services, and even assist patients in navigating the healthcare portal because it runs around the clock.
Final thoughts
WhatsApp chatbots are new to the market. They have quickly brought about profound changes in several industries, the healthcare sector leading the way. The ability of WhatsApp chatbots to facilitate real-time communication and cooperation has allowed patients, medical professionals, and healthcare providers to better manage their time and the services they get.
It provides equitable access to routine healthcare for all people. A WhatsApp chatbot can be used by anyone with smartphone proficiency to manage their health.
Additionally, installing additional software or apps at a cost is not necessary. WhatsApp is still available for free to everyone.
