samedi
Patient Appointment Scheduling Made Easy

Unutilised scheduling capacity can cost more money to both healthcare organisations and doctors than they realise. Set against the backdrop of a growing population, not only does it cost money but also lead to longer wait times for other patients. Due to a personal health experience, Katrin Keller and Prof. Dr. Alexander Alscher got to know about the complex and difficult planning of coordinated medical appointments. That is why the duo came up with the idea in 2008 to make appointment management in the healthcare system more efficient and patient-friendly. It all began with the idea of establishing online appointment booking–similar to other industries–for doctors as well.

In an attempt to solve communication problems beyond the boundaries of medical practice and clinical commitments, samedi extends a helping hand to the patients. To remove the bottlenecks and simplify the structure of appointment booking in the healthcare sector, samedi resource flow control was gradually developed to break the shackles of medical practice and boundaries of clinical commitments. Today the online solutions of samedi GmbH reach far beyond the online appointment system. The e-health web software networks medical information makes it available at all treatment-relevant locations, and thus ultimately improves the quality of care for patients. With a proficient team of over 80 employees, samedi is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of the healthcare system.

To get a broader perspective of samedi’s efficacious solutions, Prof. Dr. Alscher, who is currently the MD at samedi, walks us through the pain points dwelling in the healthcare realm. Prof. Dr. Alscher points out that patient appointment handling is the primary challenge that cripples most healthcare organisations. He mentions, “It’s imperative to have a comprehensive rule-based system that can perfectly align patient coordination with patient schedule so that it serves both the patient and the medical practices.” Dr Alscher stresses that having a workflow engine that thoroughly analyses the patient, suggests the kind of treatment and specialists needed, and even indicates the resources essential for that patient diagnosis can be instrumental in proper patient scheduling. Also, the rule-based engine helps ease the work of the administration and nurses. However, this also leads to the second roadblock, which is patient waiting time. To solve both issues, samedi has developed a mathematical algorithm that complements its organisational model. The algorithm reduces the waiting time by one-third of the normal while delivering the highest quality of services. Moreover, it also maintains the number of patients that a doctor needs to see.

The robust e-healthcare web software, samedi’s star solution, streamlines the online scheduling of patients, optimises workflows, and makes them more efficient. The powerful software makes medical information available across treatment suitable locations and accordingly bolsters the quality of patient care.

Navigating through more than 60 modules in its e-healthcare software, samedi can choose the solution that suits its clients best. The company’s comprehensive networking solution saves time and costs for several clinics, physician networks, surgical centres, medical practices, and others regardless of size and the speciality they cater to. The innovative software solution offers a simplified communication process that optimises work processes through effective resource planning, process control, online appointment booking, and allocation.

Besides, the GDPR-compliant calendar maintains the records of all the processes and ensures maximum security. The potent calendar allows the central administration of all appointments and resources, gives an overview of the waiting and treatment times, and imparts flexibility to control the allocation of dates using the call centre view feature. Furthermore, the independent Reporting Client option allows customers to create automated statistics and evaluations from appointment lists, without the need to call the samedi platform.

In addition, samedi’s online booking portal works 24/7 and allows patients to book appointments at their convenience, or even automatically appear in the waiting list by self-check-in. Also, the automatic appointment notifications (either via SMS or e-mail that includes file attachments) alert patients for their upcoming visit to the doctor. Credits to the flexible online system, now patients can also fill their medical form in advance and send it to their doctors digitally. The digital patient file is then securely maintained for future use. Another exciting feature of the samedi software solution lies in its network and referring. The platform gives the option to refer patients to a clinic or doctor or even share resources for online booking. Being a fully web-based solution, samedi functions without the installation of additional hardware or software. Owing to its modular structure, the samedi platform’s functional range can be extended by third-party software according to the requirements. With HL7 gateway establishing the clinical systems and data API that simplifies data communication and reporting between patients and their concerned medical facility, samedi allows a secure transfer of the patient file from the doctor to the patient.

Elaborating further on samedi’s impact on healthcare, Prof. Dr. Alscher recalls several of its customers who have witnessed rapid transformations in their scheduling practices. It has enabled physicians to cut down manual processes and automate the entire process of clinic administration, scheduling, and reminders for patients. The every-day reports are seamlessly updated into organised patient books, which contain the whole portfolio of their medical treatment, diagnostics, consultations, and so on. Now, all the physicians using samedi have easy access to all this information at their fingertips. The solution has radically changed physician scheduling processes, be it in terms of enhanced planning, better revenue management, or appointment prioritisation. Not to mention, physicians are reporting up to 90 per cent reduction in no-shows due to the useful reminders of samedi. For instance, many customers acclaimed the dynamic management of samedi’s resource planning system and reported almost a 30 per cent rise in their revenues.

Bolstered by such success stories, samedi is leading the healthcare sector towards more efficient and dynamic practices. Today, more than 8000 healthcare institutions already benefit from optimised workflow control with samedi. The application scenarios range from small practices with a limited administrative capacity to large clinics with extensive multi-resource management such as the renowned Charité University Medicine in Berlin or the private clinic operator Asklepios. As a software-as-a-service company, samedi gives particular focus on security. The company hosts all its applications in its central servers, ensuring the highest level of data safety to the users. It has its multi-level encryption and public key infrastructure system, restricting access only to the customers. Alongside, the company has developed over 70 add-ons and upgrades to its solutions over the last ten years, keeping well ahead of its competition. Going forward, there is little doubt that samedi will revolutionise scheduling and process management, not only in Germany but all across Europe.