Booking a table in a restaurant, the next vacation or the next physio online - most consumers and patients are familiar with some online appointment options. But how can they be implemented in the medical sector? The medical sector presents various challenges for making appointments online. In addition, the various professional groups differ in their requirements. An article about the spread, pros and cons for the medical professions.
The current state of the medical industry
Switzerland
The E-Health Barometer 2019 shows that online appointment booking is in high demand in the medical sector in Switzerland. 69% of those surveyed consider it important that a doctor's appointment can be booked online. However, only around 1,000 out of a possible 15,000 practices in Switzerland (doctors and therapists) offer this service. But there are other ways. For example, the gynecology practice in Zurich Seefeld has successfully implemented online appointment booking as an additional service.1
Germany
Various user figures and surveys in Germany also show this. Online doctor portals in particular have seen increased growth.2 A comprehensive study by Jameda shows that women in particular (64%) use online appointment booking, with only 26% of men making use of the service. There could be different reasons for this imbalance (women making appointments for the whole family, men making fewer appointments for preventive check-ups). Demand is particularly high in Berlin, Munich and Cologne. In addition, dentists, orthopaedists and gynaecologists emerge as the most popular doctors for online appointments.3 The prevalence in Germany in particular makes patients' hearts beat faster: the E-Patient Survey 2019 shows that use has risen from 24% to 28%.4
The Bitkom survey also shows that the demand is definitely there: 38% of patients could imagine using online appointments for medical appointments and 26% already use the service.5 In the Samedi Digitalization Report 2019, as many as 73% would use online appointment scheduling immediately if it were available in the medical sector. In addition, 60% would be happy to receive an appointment reminder.7
Austria
Vienna is also complaining about the lack of availability of digital services. There are explicit calls for online appointments for pediatricians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and others. This solution could save parents a lot of effort.6
The demand is there, but the medical sector is lagging significantly behind in terms of digitalization. It should be noted that many different factors need to be taken into account in this area to ensure that digitalization functions reliably, securely and smoothly.
Last but not least, many medical facilities feel seemingly insurmountable worries as to why online appointments should not be introduced. However, Calenso shows you that many concerns can be overcome. There are also some very good examples of successful implementations in the medical sector. Take a look at them here!
