Revolutionizing Healthcare Operations with Virtual Tours: A Deep Dive into the Sarasota Physicians Surgery Center Experience

February 21, 2024    Bird on a Wire, Case Studies, Pro Tips, Tech Industry   

  The Sarasota Game-Changer

 

The Case Study at a Glance

At the heart of our exploration is the Sarasota Physicians Surgery Center, where virtual tours have played a pivotal role in transforming patient experiences. The Sarasota Physicians Surgery Center was experiencing difficulty in the patient experience, in that, patients were having a difficult time understanding where to park and how to access the facility. The personnel was constantly fielding questions about where to park and how to access the facility. The patient experience was suffering as they struggled to understand how to even begin their journey. The decision was made to implement a Google Maps 360 Tour of the facility. While making a point of sharing obviously important areas like pre-op, surgery, and post-op, in this particular case it was important to feature the parking accommodations and building access. By offering an in-depth look at the facility before patients even step foot inside, these tours demystify the healthcare journey, fostering a sense of trust and transparency.

By the Numbers

The integration of virtual tours at the Sarasota Center showcased remarkable results:

  • Over 50,625 combined views of the Google Tour and still images, highlighting the tours’ effectiveness in attracting prospective patients.
  • A significant reduction in the time staff spent on patient orientation calls, translating to notable operational cost savings.

Impressive Results and Insight

  • Operational Efficiency: Integration of virtual tours significantly reduced the time staff spent explaining navigation details to patients, leading to substantial savings in operational costs.
    Enhanced Patient Engagement: The tours increased online visibility and patient traffic, directly impacting patient acquisition rates and boosting revenue streams.
    Data-Driven Strategies: Analyzing engagement with the virtual tour provided invaluable insights, allowing for targeted improvements in patient communication and education.
  • Innovative Marketing: The virtual tours not only improved SEO rankings but also served as a powerful tool for physician outreach and patient education, contributing to the center’s growth and marketability.

Beyond the Numbers

We were curious if the size of the virtual tour would have any impact on viewership and user metrics. Thus, we identified a sister location with the exact same website and layout, then proceeded to integrate a Google Maps 360 Tour, but with a larger display size for the end user. The results were staggering. We enlarged the display size of the virtual tour by 33%. This seemingly simple tweak led to an astonishing 248% jump in user engagement, showcasing the profound impact of visual presentation on digital platforms. This trial not only highlights the center’s commitment to leveraging technology for improved patient experiences but also sets a benchmark in digital healthcare communication, emphasizing the significance of user-friendly interfaces in attracting and educating potential patients.

Conclusion

The Sarasota Physicians Surgery Center’s experience underscores the strategic value of virtual tours in enhancing ASC operations across various dimensions. These digital tools are not mere novelties but are essential for modern healthcare providers aiming to improve patient care, operational efficiency, and profitability. The implementation of virtual tours across healthcare facilities has ushered in a new era of patient engagement and education, proving to be a cornerstone in the digital transformation of healthcare communication. By experimenting with the display size of these tours, we’ve unveiled the undeniable influence of visual accessibility on user interaction. Our findings from these trials, particularly at the Sarasota Physicians Surgical Center, highlight not just the potential for increased viewership but also the deeper value these tours bring in making healthcare more approachable and understandable to the general public. This initiative underscores a dedication to harnessing technology not only to enhance the patient journey but also to set new benchmarks in healthcare transparency and accessibility. Through these efforts, we aim to bridge the gap between medical facilities and patients, fostering an environment where informed decisions and ease of access are the norm, thereby enhancing the overall patient care ecosystem.

 

Read the Full Report Here: The Definitive Report – The Impact of Virtual Tours on Healthcare Facilities