Becker’s Hospital Review 2025 Buzzword 'Access to Care' and How PEC360 is Advancing with Smart Confirming

As we look toward 2025, the healthcare industry is buzzing with one key focus: "access to care." This concept is becoming a central priority in hospital C-suites as systems across the country face rising demand for healthcare services, clinician shortages, and stretched resources. According to a recent article from Becker’s Hospital Review, many organizations are investing in strategies to address these challenges, from expanding physical capacity with new construction projects to adopting innovative technologies and fostering community partnerships.

Technology and Innovation Drive Solutions

In particular, health systems are increasingly turning to technology to improve efficiency and patient access. For example, Cleveland-based University Hospitals and Prisma Health in South Carolina are focusing on new facilities and health initiatives to expand access. Houston Methodist is taking a futuristic approach by developing a "hospital of the future," using artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual healthcare solutions to enhance access. These systems are referenced in the Becker’s article as examples of how healthcare organizations are tackling the challenge of access through both physical and technological advancements.

However, despite these efforts, a significant issue persists: patient access to timely appointments. Long wait times—sometimes up to 40 days—remain a major barrier for patients, a statistic that highlights the growing challenge of scheduling disruptions. (Note: This 40-day wait time statistic is from our own research, not from Becker’s article.)

This is where Smart Confirming, our AI-powered solution, comes into play.

Smart Confirming: Optimizing Access and Improving Operational Efficiency

Smart Confirming addresses the exact challenges discussed in the Becker’s article, which highlights the need for healthcare systems to embrace new solutions to improve patient access. Our platform leverages AI to deliver personalized reminders to patients, reducing the likelihood of no-shows and missed appointments. By analyzing patient data and predicting high-risk no-shows, Smart Confirming tailors reminders to each appointment’s specific needs, helping clinics better manage their schedules and optimize patient access.

Much like the innovative strategies health systems are deploying, Smart Confirming works to ensure that patients have access to timely care. The platform provides a true measure of patient access by combining same-day cancellations, re-schedules, and no-shows into one clear metric, allowing healthcare organizations to recover missed appointments and improve their overall scheduling efficiency.

The Path Forward: A Creative Approach to Patient Access

Looking ahead to 2025, as health systems continue to get more creative in improving access to care, Smart Confirming will be at the forefront of that transformation. Our AI-driven platform provides healthcare organizations with the tools they need to optimize appointment scheduling, reduce cancellations, and ultimately, improve patient access.

By integrating Smart Confirming into their operations, clinics and hospitals can take a proactive approach to patient access, ensuring fewer missed appointments, reduced delays, and better overall patient care. As hospitals like Prisma Health and University Hospitals are demonstrating, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The future of patient access requires a multifaceted approach—and Smart Confirming is an essential piece of that puzzle.

In quoting the insights from the Becker’s article, it’s clear that access to care will be a top priority for healthcare systems in 2025. With Smart Confirming, we’re excited to be part of the solution, helping organizations across the industry improve patient access, operational efficiency, and overall care.