How physical therapists can use QR codes

QR codes have become ubiquitous since the technology was first invented in the 1990s. From auto manufacturing to air travel, restaurants to retail, Nike to Netflix, businesses use these information-packed little squares to enhance marketing, improve communication, provide quick access to information, and otherwise make our lives easier.

Physical therapists can also take advantage of the benefits of QR codes. Most people devote a significant amount of time and attention to their smartphones. Physical therapists can use QR codes to meet people where they’re at, engaging patients, streamlining operations, and creating greater customer satisfaction.

In this article, we’ll review what QR codes do, discuss why QR codes are useful for physical therapists, and share specific ways physical therapists can use QR codes to help their practice.

How QR codes work

QR codes, or quick-response codes, are visual codes that link to digital locations, like webpages, when they’re scanned by a smartphone camera.

They are similar to barcodes, but they have the capacity to store much more data. QR codes can let users access websites and phone numbers, get directions, download apps, send payments, learn more about a company’s products and services, complete mobile checkouts at retail stores, check in for air travel, and more.

The vast majority of smartphones today have cameras that are able to read QR codes, making them accessible and easy to use.

How QR codes are useful for physical therapists

QR codes can benefit physical therapists in several ways. Here are a few reasons to consider implementing QR codes in your physical therapy (PT) practice:

• They help reduce paperwork. QR codes allow patients to easily access large amounts of information digitally. You can use QR codes to direct patients to online marketing materials and educational resources rather than distributing printed copies, saving money.
• They help improve the patient experience. Your practice can use QR codes to provide access to helpful digital materials, like educational resources, effective exercise routines, and pain management tips. You can also share appointment availability and contact details for the physical therapists in your practice. You could make individual QR codes that let patients quickly view treatment plans and answers to common questions. Patients could also scan QR codes in your reception area to access the information they need while waiting for their appointments.
• They help automate check-in and registration. Use QR codes to direct patients to a booking platform where they can choose a time for their visit, schedule an appointment, or fill out an intake form for their first appointment. When they arrive for their PT session, they can use a QR code to check in and fill out any additional forms on their smartphone.
• They enhance social media campaigns. You can invite new and existing patients to follow your social media accounts via QR codes. You can also share QR codes on your social media channels to promote exclusive content, invite people to information sessions or seminars, or direct people to your practice with a digital map service.

How physical therapists can put QR codes to practical use with Jotform

QR codes have many practical applications for your physical therapy practice. They can help patients easily book appointments, complete intake forms, leave feedback, and more. Jotform offers several tools that can help you take advantage of these applications and easily integrate QR codes into your practice.

Jotform is a powerful form-building platform that can help you create forms for your physical therapy practice and automatically generate QR codes to quickly share these forms with patients.

You can build a form from scratch or customize an existing template — there are over 10,000 to choose from. Use our easy-to-use, drag-and-drop Form Builder to add form fields and widgets, include terms and conditions, modify fonts and colors, integrate payment processors, and take advantage of over 200 software integrations.

When your form is done, you can easily share it with a QR code. Download the code or embed it in your website. Patients can simply scan the code to complete the form from any device.

You can also add QR codes to the forms themselves with a widget.

Booking forms

You can use Jotform to create booking and intake forms. Use calendar fields and date picker widgets in your form to show patients available appointment slots. Integrate your form with software tools like Google Calendar to automatically add new appointments to your calendar.

Share the form with a QR code by printing the code and placing it in your office or by embedding the code in your website.

Contact forms

Easily create contact forms with Jotform. Jotform will automatically store patients’ contact information in a database format with Jotform Tables.

Share contact forms with QR codes. Place the QR code in a visible location in your office and direct patients to scan it to enter their contact information quickly and easily.

Feedback and reviews

Gathering patient feedback can be a valuable way to assess how your physical therapy practice is perceived and find areas for improvement. Create evaluation forms for patients, download QR codes for them, then place the codes in high-traffic areas so your patients can easily scan them to share their experience with your practice.

Payment forms

You can accept payments with the forms you create with Jotform by integrating one of over 30 payment processors into your form. You can start a new payment form from scratch or get a quick start by customizing a payment form template that already includes a payment processor integration.

Use QR codes to easily collect payments through these forms — display the QR code at your practice’s checkout desk, and let your patients scan the code using their smartphone to fill out the form and send payment.Your physical therapy practice can use QR codes and the many resources Jotform offers, including easy QR code generation, to help streamline operations, increase patient engagement, and enhance patient satisfaction.

Photo by Tim Samuel