There is no doubt if people tend to be more mobile, and this kind of behaviors shifting also affect to industry in almost every segments. To offset this transformational, industry begin to exploit internet advancement. So, nowadays, people become more familiar with every kind of “e-business”.

Hospital is one of industry which has to implement internet system in both their operational and marketing. Hospital marketing is, effectively a way to let local residents know about the services that a hospital provides. Not only that, time by time, Hospital marketing also reach global resident around the world who want to know about hospital information. Using this way, they can push down their cost in promotion and they may be able to get known globally. Also, Hospital marketing is used to prove that they are always improving their services and let people know about hospital credibility by inform their papers, article, social event or activity that done by hospital’s doctors or professors.

Meanwhile, Hospital also use internet to make their operational become more effective and efficient, it is called as Intranet Operational. The using of intranet is proven to improve hospital’s service both inside and outside. They can cut paper-based report or data (minimize or remove data loss); improve doctor’s easiness in accessing patient’s historical data, help in scheduling both nurses and doctors, rooms management, financial excellence, and many other benefits to improve their efficient and effective way in hospital work.

So, Hospital evolves to be more global in sounding their services to (potential) patients. Internet brings new face to Hospital industry, because by using internet, they have opportunities to increase their profit and extends their services. In brief, it can be said if expansion of patients means both a larger cash flow for the hospital to spend on upgrading equipment, hiring new staff, and giving bonuses to employees. But beyond that it may mean that people who would not necessarily know about the care that a hospital provides, are introduced to the idea. In other words, hospital marketing benefits both the hospital, and the community.

Look at the using of internet by hospital, we can see if step by step, hospital become know how to exploit internet to be more lucrative to them and more easy to be accessed by people.


Past

In the past, well-known hospitals which know about the benefit in using internet were starting to build their website that provide many information about their profile, doctors, services, facilities, and how to contact them. In brief, the past internet utilization by hospital is for:
  1. Provide information about hospital
    Hospital give basic informational such as doctor, their services in hospital, sometimes, price also include in it.

  2. Contact information or map
    To contact the hospital, they also provide contact information such as address.

  3. Consultation by email
    Some hospital in the past also give chance to people to asking their question about health issue by consult it with the doctors.




Present

In present, Hospital website is become more complex and more informational, looks like other website, hospital trying to capture people’s interest in browsing their website. Now, we can say that Hospital industry that develop website can be called as e-healthy.

The development in hospital website relate to the patients as their customer. Consumers have embraced the e-health revolution with alacrity, arming themselves with the necessary tools to become "online patients." They can be found on the Web seeking information on a recent diagnosis, checking for provider information, and even filling prescriptions. In an industry long characterized by traditional patient/provider interactions, the consumer as a driving force behind e-health is a new paradigm.

As a result, health care professionals are only beginning to realize the many implications of this trend. And while it's consumers who drive the e-health revolution, their satisfaction is not the only benefit. Developing and implementing a comprehensive e-health strategy can be an all-around win for physicians, hospital administrators, payers and consumers. Health care organizations that are proactive, giving consumers what they want, will be able to carve out their place in the emerging e-health movement.

Now, e-health or Hospital website is prepared to afford:
  1. Descriptive Information about hospital
    It includes the services provided by hospital, facilities in hospital, information about their nurses, doctors, slogan, environments, prices, and contact information. By provide this information, customer acquisition can be done by impress them by price competitive, place, cleanliness environment, advanced technology in their facility. Sometimes, some of Hospitals can add Online Value Propositions (OVP) by adding their slogan in their website.


  2. Online appointment
    Nowadays, many hospital websites provide online appointment. Using this way they target people who do not want to waste their time to go the hospital and waiting for their next or do direct appointment by phone. Using online appointment, they can save time and make sure what time they have to go there.


  3. Health Information
    In their website, they can provide health information related with diseases. This information may be containing what is the disease, its symptoms, and how to deal with it. By provide this, people will know that the hospital is care about health and expertise in that area.


  4. Health Archive (Article, Paper, Journal)
    Some of Hospital websites also have journal or article published by their doctors or professors, using this article; they can introduce themselves as a hospital that always improve their knowledge in health care.


  5. Search Feature
    People who usually go there or people who know the well-known doctor and want to be his patient can search him easily.


  6. Online assessment by specialist
    The new site provides many advantages for patients, in particular for individuals suffering from mental health related illnesses. Due to the stigma associated with mental health, the online services allow people to discuss their concerns, receive mental health education, ask questions and receive assurance from one of our experts online in a secure and safe environment.



Future

In the future, internet may be more exploited such as:
  1. Online consultation using video conference with patients in specific time
    Patients can consult with their doctor vie internet, they have to make an appointment first and then if accepted, they will be informed about the time.

  2. Remote Surgery (Becoming reality now, but related to technology and regulations)
    Remote surgery becomes reality now and it was succeed when it was performed for the first time. In the future as the internet structure becomes faster, stable, and reliable, remote surgery will be used often not only for surgery but also in education.

  3. Improve services in appointment
    Some people think the condition or environment of hospital’s room is not friendly with them. As the industry become more develops, hospitals can provide service such as room decoration by the patient themselves through website.

  4. Virtual visit to the hospital
    People can access hospital like they are walking in there. So, the website look s like more attractive to them and they can feel more familiar with the hospitals. Also they can put attention in looking the environment and views in hospital.

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