When clinical care feels equal across providers, digital convenience becomes a deciding factor for patients. According to Tebra’s 2025 Patient Perspectives Survey, 19% of patients say they visited the same provider multiple times because digital tools made it easy to do so, while 14% of patients say they have left a provider specifically due to a lack of online tools. 

That means your website, scheduling system, communication tools, and online billing process aren’t just support features — they’re critical factors that can directly affect your bottom line.

Let’s look at 6 of the biggest digital frustrations for patients today, what they mean for your practice, and how to fix them.

The problem: Patients want to book appointments online, instantly, and without a phone call. In fact, 43% of patients say online appointment booking is their favorite digital tool. Yet many practices still require calls, and even when available, digital tools are often clunky, outdated, or confusing.

The impact: When patients can’t book anytime or find the process confusing, they’re more likely to delay, abandon the attempt, or switch to a provider with true 24/7 access. Also, without automated confirmations or reminders, no-shows rise, which leads to lost revenue and lower retention.

The solution:

Tebra's online scheduling feature allows patients to book appointments anytime, anywhere, directly from your practice’s website and other online profiles.

The problem: Patients want flexible, convenient ways to communicate. Tebra’s survey shows that 42% of patients are frustrated when there's no way to message or ask follow-up questions. Moreover, 37% say having to call for things that should be available online is their biggest pain point when it comes to digital tools at a practice.

The impact: It increases administrative burden on staff while creating care delays that erode patient trust. 

The solution:

Tebra’s EHR-integrated patient experience platform features automated reminders and secure messaging, reducing no-shows and ensuring patients can reach you when they need to. 

The problem: Tebra’s survey found that 36% of patients want more communication between visits, yet many practices provide little to no digital follow-up after an appointment. 

The impact: Not following up denies your practice opportunities to build loyalty, address concerns before they become problems, and demonstrate ongoing commitment to patient care. 

The solution:

Tebra's AI Review Replies crafts thoughtful, personalized, HIPAA-compliant responses to patient reviews, and our Review Insights tracks patient sentiment to catch recurring issues early and improve satisfaction.

The problem: One portal to book appointments, another to view results, and yet another to pay a bill. Tebra's survey found that 36% of patients say juggling multiple logins is one of their top frustrations, and 44% report having to repeat information due to disconnected systems.

The impact: It wastes time and makes your practice seem disorganized — even if care is excellent.

The solution: 

Tebra's all-in-one platform offers scheduling, billing, EHR, and communication through one login. It delivers the "single, easy-to-use system for everything" that 27% of patients say would make them more likely to return for future care.

The problem: Today's patients expect transparency and easy data access. In fact, 48% say online access to lab results and visit summaries make the biggest difference to their experiences. Yet, at many practices, these pieces of health information are buried in hard-to-navigate portals.

The impact: Inaccessible records and results diminish patient confidence in your practice's efficiency and transparency.

The solution:

Tebra's patient portal provides instant, secure access to health records and test results.

The problem: Billing is a major source of anxiety and dissatisfaction. Tebra’s survey shows that 25% of patients cite unclear billing as a significant source of frustration. 

The impact: When patients can't easily pay their bills online, it creates confusion, delays payment, and damages the provider-patient relationship. It also drives up call volume and slows cash flow.

The solution:

Tebra's patient payment features streamline billing processes while providing transparent, user-friendly payment options that improve both patient satisfaction and practice cash flow.

Every digital roadblock encountered chips away at patient satisfaction. The good news is that fixing them goes beyond boosting satisfaction — it drives retention, improves referrals, and strengthens your practice's reputation.

Start by auditing your current digital workflows. Look for gaps in scheduling, communication, and follow-up, and prioritize the changes your patients care about most. Even small improvements can lead to big loyalty gains.