How to Utilize WhatsApp Business API for the Healthcare Industry

The healthcare industry is now experiencing extraordinary expansion. The global health industry had a value of $8,452 billion in the year 2018 and is forecast to expand to around $11,908 billion by the end of next year, with a cumulative growth of 8.9 percent. The expansion in population, growing health needs, and the prevalence of online apps in healthcare are driving the market growth worldwide.

Due to the need for timely conversation in the medical industry, there is a need for a digital interaction channel that gives speed, directness, and efficiency. And this is where WhatsApp as a messaging tool becomes the right choice to engage with patients. 

Let’s take a closer look at the way of using WhatsApp Business API for healthcare to enhance patient conversation, along with its benefits. 

What Is WhatsApp Business API for Healthcare?

WhatsApp Business API is an end-to-end encrypted messaging tool used to simplify the communication between healthcare and patients. With 2.5 billion users worldwide, a user-friendly tool that requires no installation from the patient side makes it the right choice for sensitive industries like healthcare.

Healthcare Communication Statistics:

• 95% of patients prefer messaging apps to traditional messaging
• 87% of healthcare providers report enhanced patient interaction with WhatsApp
• 73% reduction in missed appointments with automated reminders
• 65% faster response times compared to traditional phone calls
• 89% patient satisfaction with WhatsApp-based healthcare engagement

But you know what’s cool about this tool isn’t only sending bulk messages. Its AI-powered chatbots can provide information on your symptoms or schedule doctor’s appointments. This is best because it means your doctors and nurses have enough time to deal with the big problem.

Why Use WhatsApp Messaging for Healthcare?

The use of WhatsApp means that healthcare organizations enrich patient experience and optimize patient communication by adapting to each patient’s needs. Consequently, the perceived advantages of implementing WhatsApp Business API for Healthcare are stated in this section. The top 7 benefits of using WhatsApp for Healthcare are:

1. Encrypted and safe use

WhatsApp healthcare messaging works with a provided method for end-to-end encryption and secure sharing and communication. All the data has been retained securely on the cloud.

2. Fast delivery of service

Compared to the other mentioned methods, WhatsApp does not take long for you to get your service. If you wish to be patient, it would not take very long. Finally, by tapping into the use of WhatsApp, healthcare providers can set up at least an initial conversation to offer patients an instant response.

3. Comfortable communication

Every user can conveniently communicate with another, as it is the most used single platform. 

The messages are sent to users securely. Using WhatsApp for hospitals can add businesses and patients in a low-key manner.

4. Personalized attention

From time to time, it is very easy to personalize one chat since every WhatsApp account is unique.

5. Automation

Since the WhatsApp Business API is capable of handling chatbots, the option helps the organization when the human staff cannot cope with the number of patient inquiries.

6. Lack of judgment and patience

Because chatbots are software, they are objective, polite, and lack any judgment, which could be a source of stress for many patients.

7. Save time and enhance efficiency.

The most crucial factor for businesses is that it prevents time wastage and enhances service delivery. Some of the healthcare routines done through WhatsApp Business API include: appointment reminders, confirmations, and rescheduling bookings. This also saves time, and you can always use it to develop a better quality of care for your patients. 

Consider if your patients can book the consultation at 2 am without being required to talk to anyone. The booking procedure becomes more manageable for patients, and, at the same time, you can focus on making some other aspects of your operations easier.

WhatsApp Business API for Healthcare Use Cases?

Integrating a WhatsApp chatbot into your hospital system enables you to address patients’ concerns as regards appointments, consultations or treatment, and so on. 

In any case, if there are difficult questions, the composite team will be able to solve them for you. As explained, it was easy to work within the WhatsApp business cases since the team’s dynamics allowed working on the cases at the same time.

1. Scheduling appointments

Patients spend quite a lot of time because your team feels the pressure to attend to the calls as early as possible. At the same time, your staff isn’t able to assist other patients at the facility directly; therefore, it will be important to consider the above-stated factors keenly. There must be a faster method.

You can effectively set up appointments using WhatsApp. A WhatsApp chatbot may host every conversation, and it can schedule appointments with just a script.  This saves your team a ton of time.

For example:

“Hey there, I’m your assistant. How can I help you? To meet your requirements, select any of the options below.

• 1. Book an appointment
• 2. Confirm an appointment
• 3. Cancel an app
• 4. Reschedule your appointment

To go with any option, send the respective number option.”

2. Confirm appointments

Often, patients have to provide more focus to appointments, inscribe the schedule inappropriately, or come in after the appointed time. Both time and money are being wasted. 

What if you call or post messages to patients regarding their appointments one day in advance?

There can be a guarantee that the Patient will attend, reschedule, or cancel in advance because  WhatsApp bulk messages have a 99% open rate. In Getgabs, you need to set up the message once before letting automation take care of the rest.

For example:

“Dear patient, this is a reminder message of your appointment today. Please come with your reports at the scheduled time. See you on time!”

3. Share report results

The patients who need treatment in your facility right now can maximize that time much better.  WhatsApp Business API for Healthcare can be used to share findings securely.

Previously taken test results can also be sent to patients by text message. In this way, they can then schedule a follow-up consultation if required.  Or you could offer them advice. In Getgabs, you can have a substantial message or, better yet, a chatbot to share the results.

For example:

“Hey there! Here is the link to your blood test result, which was performed yesterday. We’re always available to help you. Feel free to get us anytime!”

4. Collects patient data

Patients may be asked to fill out a questionnaire or form depending on the type of treatment they want. You are provided with all the knowledge necessary for effective treatment. Before embracing therapy at the clinic, one can permit the patients to do this. Alternatively, operate the WhatsApp Business API to obtain the information in advance.

WhatsApp data collection is faster than any other traditional means and supplies all the data that you need. This means that when using Getgabs, the patient will be notified automatically on WhatsApp Business about a provided questionnaire before the treatment, just like the appointment reminder. 

For example:

“Hello Mr. Devin, we hope you are doing well. We’re doing a health survey, if you have some time, we would like to get some information from you. Please fill out this form to share your feedback. Thanks!”

5. Consultation and prescription reminders

People are often prescribed medication for a definite period. This can lead to a situation where a patient needs a new dose the moment the drug gives out.  Reminders for medicines can be sent to patients through WhatsApp. It not only feels personal, but it also gives the patient a chance to ask questions. You can also notify the patients of such changes at the same time. 

For example:

“Hello, it’s been a week since you visited your doctor. We have made the changes in the prescription. You can take a new dose of medicine in the next three days. See you!”

6. Government scheme claims

Are you a provider of insurance? I notice that sometimes patients face quite several difficulties when it comes to moving from treatment to claim. The procedure may already be available on your Website, but implementing it via WhatsApp makes it even easier. 

Patients can send claims on WhatsApp, find out which services are allowed, and track their remaining treatment plans.  Several back-and-forth texts were all it took. When you have set this procedure in Getgabs, all you will do is to watch the chatbot speak to the public. 

For example:

Hello, Mrs. Sharma. Thank you for visiting us. How can we provide our services to help you? Please select from the available choices.

• Upload claim
• Check coverage
• Track claims

7. Send payments link

When it comes to paying for medical services, you can only sometimes let the patient pay right away. It’s different from getting new jeans. The invoice may sometimes have to go via a week or so later. You can do this via WhatsApp or even with a traditional post office letter. You can even link them or put a QR code so that they can pay immediately. And that makes the order or payment process faster and is a lot less time-consuming! 

For example:

“Hii, thanks for visiting our clinic. Please find the attached invoice for your treatment. If there is any due, please process the payment. If you face any transaction issues with the link, let us know.”

8. Collect feedback

The attitudes of patients towards the care given to them should be known. It has a marketing function as people pursue its acquisition, and it also helps to indicate future directions for improvement. Leaving a survey on the desk is also valid after a procedure, but WhatsApp is a much more effective means of receiving an answer from a patient. People are more comfortable typing in the survey than they will be for conducting it in person, through the mail, or even through email.

For example:

“Hello [name]. If you like our service, please leave your valuable feedback with us.”

How to Get WhatsApp Business API with Getgabs

Because of its single platform and accessibility at a lower price, businesses often integrate with the patient through the WhatsApp Business API. The solution is designed for businesses and large corporations. Since it is simply an API, it has to be combined with other applications for managing customer conversations, like the getgabs.  

To integrate the official WhatsApp business API, go through these easy steps to leverage it for your business:

1. At the initial level, sign up or log in to the Getgabs panel.
2. Move to manual onboarding on the left side panel.
3. To create an app, a Facebook developer account is used.
4. Link a non-WhatsApp or new WhatsApp number to the API setup.
5. Upload the required documents, like GST and MSME, to verify your company account on Meta. Verify that the business number will be used for the API.
6. Move to the Getgabs app, and add needed details, including app ID, phone number, and display. Once details are added, the account status will be changed to Green.

Hurray! You’re ready to grow your business and promote it like having a cup of tea.

Tips to Use WhatsApp Business API for Healthcare

• Create customized welcome messages so patients may get in touch with you right away and use your services and information.
• If you don’t already have your patients’ phone numbers, provide a simple link that they may use to begin a private WhatsApp chat with you. In posts on your Facebook page, in emails, or any other offline channels, share the link. 
• Lease, and utilize encrypted video and audio conferences as a means of communication with clients or other officials who can hardly be accessed physically.
• Sending the same private message to multiple recipients or contacts makes use of the broadcast list. 
• In your WhatsApp, the broadcast message will only be delivered to persons they have stored in their phone book and saved as a contact. 
• Your WhatsApp broadcast message will only be sent to contacts who have added you to their phone’s address book in WhatsApp.
• Retain copies of the typical messages you send to facilitate quick and informative responses to patients’ questions. 
• Make sure your patients are knowledgeable of your location and business hours, specifically if either has been modified.
• Status allows you to post text, images, and video updates. Discuss how to stay clean and other measures probably in the event of flu-like illnesses going around.
• As emphasized during the busy, signal an automatic away statement to help the clients understand when they might get responses from you.

Conclusion

Effective and timely conversation has an important role to play in healthcare, as the well-being of the patients can usually depend on it. To fulfil this, the WhatsApp marketing tool and the advanced features it unlocks are essential.

The healthcare industry is all about trust, timing, and care. WhatsApp automated communication prompts the professionals to deliver all three on scale. Whether it’s a single clinic or a multi-location hospital chain, the tool ensures patients are always updated, supported, and connected. Moving deeper into the digital health world, using WhatsApp is not just a smart move – a vital one for offering the best patient care. 

Start using the WhatsApp Business API for simplified, real-time healthcare communication.

Get GetItSMS today!