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We all can agree that technology is constantly evolving and so should everything around us including the healthcare industry. To do so, many healthcare practices are adapting technologies to accommodate consumers’ changing needs. That’s where patient engagement technology comes into the picture.
The introduction of patient engagement technology is a huge step forward helping healthcare providers improve their care experience to keep patients happy, healthy, and loyal. It is also great for gathering actionable patient health information, reducing costs, and transforming health systems into a patient-centered model.
It has been reported by the World Health Organization that when patients are engaged in their healthcare journey, they make more informed decisions about their healthcare plans. Plus, patient engagement will create a sense of mutual accountability and understanding between patients and healthcare providers.
In this blog, Unify Medicraft we take us through the meaning of patient engagement technology, its significance, benefits, and other important things to know. Let’s dig into it.
What is Patient Engagement Technology?
Patient engagement technology is the process by which patients are allowed to participate fully in their healthcare journey. When patients are engaged in their journey, it gives them useful information about their health, empowering them to assist in the care plan decision-making process.
According to statistics, patient engagement solutions is estimated to reach $25.9 billion by 2024 due to patients seeing benefits such as reduced costs, and more personalized health information, further proving it is having a great impact on patient experience.
With the development of technology, healthcare care teams have created a collection of health self-management, communication, and education services that are available on demand. Furthermore, there are different types of patient engagement technology solutions from Customer Relationship Management software to telehealth and wearable devices.
Importance of Patient Engagement in Healthcare
Patient engagement is one of the most important actions to take if you want to keep your patients informed about their health journey.
When patients are engaged in their care, they will collaborate with healthcare providers to make informed decisions about their treatment. With this process, patients can be more committed to achieving a positive result, instead of turning out or getting discouraged.
This kind of patient-centered care ensures patients, and their healthcare providers are always on the same page and allows for high levels of accessibility when it comes to health data.
Benefits of Patient Engagement
A good patient engagement comes with many benefits that help in improving the health of patients and also reduce the cost of care.
Better Health Result
Patient engagement results in better health as patients are fully committed to their health journey. When patients are dedicated to their recovery, they will take their medications as prescribed and consistently engage in condition self-management, resulting in fewer complications.
It also reduces unnecessary visits to see their healthcare provider and fewer emergency admissions to the hospital. All these make patients recover more quickly than others who are unengaged.
Understand Their Condition
When patients are engaged, they understand their condition and treatment plan which helps them to easily detect if anything unusual is happening to them.
This kind of patient will ensure their preventative behaviors such as regular health checkups, immunizations, mammograms, nutritious eating, and STI/STD screenings are done regularly. They are more likely to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and avoid activities like smoking, and drinking excessively.
Also, it is possible for them to quickly identify a disease early, often resulting in avoidance of intense intervention or a grave prognosis, a remedy that are often costly for the patient and their family.
Improve Patient Care
According to research, patient engagement improves patient care by providing patients with all the information they need throughout their treatment journey. It allows healthcare providers to create treatment plans to the unique needs, preferences, and goals of their patients.
Reduced Cost of Care
When patients move from the traditional way of receiving treatment to patient engagement solutions, like telehealth and remote patients, it significantly decreases readmission, using the emergency department, and spending so much time in the health system.
Engaged patients also use less of the hospital resources because they now require less hospital time and staff attention. This, in turn, reduces their total cost of care while receiving the treatment they deserve.
Why Patient Engagement Requires a Full Platform
Healthcare providers need a software-based system to engage with their patients and collect health data to improve their treatment delivery. Although a patient portal is a great first step in increasing patient engagement, it should not be the only tool considered. This is because of the following statistics:
- While 90% of healthcare providers offer a patient portal solution, only 30% of patients actively use them.
- The features and qualities of patient portals are not the same and healthcare providers need the right tools to drive engagement and patient satisfaction.
- Patient engagement is a continuous process that does not just end in the office.
Healthcare providers need to interact and treat their patients according to their unique needs and preferences. Also, many patients want convenience, and self-service options for scheduling their treatments and appointments with many communication options.
Technologies for Enabling Engagement
With the development of technology, there has been many software in the healthcare industry that can be used to increase patient engagement. Some of these are specific to healthcare. Let's talk about some software that can be applied to the healthcare industry.
- Customer Relationship Management software
- Gateway software
- Contact center telephony and chat
- Video and texting platforms
The above and other software are often seamlessly integrated into the patient journey.
When IT, patients, and doctors work together, it makes meaningful experiences and measurable improvements to the patient's health journey.
Patient Engagement Technology Applications
There is a wide array of patient engagement technology in the healthcare industry today.
Patient Portals
Patient portals are known as secure online websites that give patients convenient, 24-hour access to personal health information and communicate with their healthcare provider.
Patient portals also allow patients to schedule appointments, request prescription refills, pay bills, and take care of other common tasks.
Telehealth Interactions
Telehealth is known as virtual software where patients communicate with their healthcare providers. Telehealth services support and promote long-distance clinical healthcare, thereby increasing patient engagement.
Patients who are using telehealth have the benefit of staying in the comfort of their homes to see their healthcare provider. It is also great for providing healthcare services to rural and remote populations that have minimal or no access to health services.
Efficient Contact Center Interactions
Efficient contact center interaction is when patients speak to the right person and get the right information without wasting time anytime they call the healthcare center. This situation is where the right technology and professional staff work together to improve patient experience.
Medical Device Interfaces and Patient Support
With many patients using in-home medical devices for the treatment of their conditions, it is important to have apps for patient support that give information about the safe and effective use of these devices.
Appointment Reminders
The use of telehealth services has made automated appointment reminders via phone, email, or text message, and third-party reminder software a necessity in the healthcare industry. Many appointments reminder software can be integrated with EHR, CRM, spreadsheets, and calendars to make the process seamless for the administrative staff.
An Engagement Strategy
When healthcare providers are creating an engagement strategy, one of the first steps is evaluating areas in which patient experience needs improvement. Having the right team who understands the business of healthcare, patient communication, and how to implement technologies will help develop the best engagement strategy that will work for your patients.
Different ways Healthcare Technology Helps Improve Patient Engagement
Improve Patient Engagement
Over the years, it is obvious that there has been significant growth in the use of digital services in the healthcare industry. What this new development has done is to give patients direct access to their healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes.
This technology has also improved how patients engage with their healthcare provider and respond to their health journey.
Accessibility to Virtual Consultations
When we mention virtual consultations, we are talking about a process where patients speak to a healthcare provider virtually about their health challenges.
This can be done through tools like video conferencing for patients to feel as though they are in the office with the healthcare provider. Virtual consultation increases healthcare accessibility, and patient follow-up while decreasing the risk of missed appointments.
Improve Communication
The use of SMS messaging, web-based patient portals for appointment scheduling, and instant eligibility verification has been shown to improve the way patients communicate with their healthcare providers.
With more continuous and direct communication, patients are likely to receive accurate information when compared to going to the hospital every time they want to see their doctor.
Easy Appointment Scheduling
Software with patient portals has replaced the complex process of booking an appointment by calling the hospital. Patients can now login into the patient portal and schedule their appointments online at their convenience, without waiting in line for hours. After booking the appointment, patients will receive automated reminders through SMS messaging, so they don’t have to worry about forgetting.
Summary
Patient experience is often cyclical as they move from self-scheduling to preparing for the appointment, receiving care, and back to scheduling their next check-up. Therefore, patient engagement technology needs to reflect this pattern and support the ongoing cycle that continues to evolve.