Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1067447
34 Executive Briefing T oday's innovation has made technologies from a year or two ago feel outdated. That might seem like an exaggeration, but look at the evolving capabilities from iPhone model to iPhone model and it becomes clear, technological innovation is on a rapid pace. But what does this tech evolution mean for the patient? And what does it mean as we begin thinking about patients as healthcare consumers? The beginning of what's next Healthcare organizations have a tremendous opportunity to reach patients and enable them to take a more active role in their care. Patients who are more actively involved in their healthcare tend to have better outcomes, resulting in lower costs. Value-based payment models have increased the importance of these measures — so getting patients engaged has become mission-critical. As consumers continue gravitating toward mobile devices to participate in health and wellness, I have recommendations on where healthcare organizations can focus to help their patients get the most value — clinically and financially — to be engaged with their care. Giving the patients what they need to stay healthy The biggest way providers can use technology is to help close avoidable gaps in care. As a result, today's healthcare providers need solutions that do not require patients to log into a patient portal. They need solutions that deliver SMS messages with weblinks making it easier to execute specific care tasks across the continuum. This can be especially valuable for patients with one or multiple chronic conditions. With text-messaging capability, patients who missed their three-month appointment would receive a reminder via text message, which'll include a link to reschedule that appointment on their phone. To better illustrate this point, one health system stated in a recent patient engagement KLAS report that shifting to texting patients drove patient engagement. 1 "We ended up with a real mobile connection with our patients," the health system's executive said, citing a 50 percent response rate to texts. "We don't send emails because people don't read emails anymore." Real-time texts are sent automatically for very specific reasons, such as preparing for a visit, receiving important educational content, setting up appointments or speaking with a physician. Because patients use their mobile devices for everything from communication to banking, providers need to think about meeting patients where they are. Telehealth: Reaching beyond the standard patient visit Regardless of job, location or other life factors, it can be difficult for people to reach doctors, for their own health need, or those of their loved ones. Patients can leave messages, and due to their busy schedules are not available for call backs, or maybe they don't have the flexibility to take their children to the pediatrician during normal business hours. Often their only option is to go to an urgent The evolution of patient engagement Sponsored by: T oday's innovation has made technologies from a year or two ago feel outdated. That might seem like an exaggeration, but look at the evolving capabilities from iPhone model to iPhone model and it becomes clear, technological innovation is on a rapid pace. But what does this tech evolution mean for the patient? And what does it mean as we begin thinking about patients as healthcare consumers? The beginning of what's next Healthcare organizations have a tremendous opportunity to reach patients and enable them to take a more active role in their care. Patients who are more actively involved in their healthcare tend to have better outcomes, resulting in lower costs. Value-based payment models have increased the importance of these measures — so getting patients engaged has become mission-critical. As consumers continue gravitating toward mobile devices to participate in health and wellness, I have recommendations on where healthcare organizations can focus to help their patients get the most value — clinically and financially — to be engaged with their care. Giving the patients what they need to stay healthy The biggest way providers can use technology is to help close avoidable gaps in care. As a result, today's healthcare providers need solutions that do not require patients to log in to a patient portal. They need solutions that deliver SMS messages, with weblinks making it easy to execute specific care tasks across the continuum. This can be especially valuable for patients with one or multiple chronic conditions. With text messaging capability, any patient who missed their three-month appointment would receive a reminder via text message, which'll include a link to reschedule that appointment on their phone. To better illustrate this point, one health system stated in a recent patient engagement KLAS report that shifting to texting patients drove patient engagement. 1 "We ended up with a real mobile connection with our patients," the health system's executive said, citing a 50 percent response rate to texts. "We don't send emails because people don't read emails anymore." Real-time texts are sent automatically for very specific reasons, such as preparing for a visit, receiving important educational content, setting up appointments or speaking with a physician. Because patients use their mobile devices for everything from communication to banking, providers need to think about meeting patients where they are. Telehealth: Reaching beyond the standard patient visit Regardless of job, location or other life factors, it can be difficult for people to reach doctors, for their own health need, or those of their loved ones. Patients can leave messages, and due to their busy schedules are not available for call backs, or maybe they don't have the flexibility to take their children to the pediatrician during normal business hours. Often their only option is to go to an urgent care center in the evening. There is nothing uncommon about these scenarios, which is why many healthcare organizations are losing business to The evolution of patient engagement 2 Executive Briefing By Kim Franks, RN, Vice President & General Manager, Consumer Health, Allscripts "Healthcare organizations have a tremendous opportunity to reach patients and enable them to take a more active role in their care." — Kim Franks, RN, Vice President & General Manager, Consumer Health, Allscripts By Kim Franks, RN, Vice President & General Manager, Consumer Health, Allscripts Sponsored by: T oday's innovation has made technologies from a year or two ago feel outdated. That might seem like an exaggeration, but look at the evolving capabilities from iPhone model to iPhone model and it becomes clear, technological innovation is on a rapid pace. But what does this tech evolution mean for the patient? And what does it mean as we begin thinking about patients as healthcare consumers? The beginning of what's next Healthcare organizations have a tremendous opportunity to reach patients and enable them to take a more active role in their care. Patients who are more actively involved in their healthcare tend to have better outcomes, resulting in lower costs. Value-based payment models have increased the importance of these measures — so getting patients engaged has become mission-critical. As consumers continue gravitating toward mobile devices to participate in health and wellness, I have recommendations on where healthcare organizations can focus to help their patients get the most value — clinically and financially — to be engaged with their care. Giving the patients what they need to stay healthy The biggest way providers can use technology is to help close avoidable gaps in care. As a result, today's healthcare providers need solutions that do not require patients to log in to a patient portal. They need solutions that deliver SMS messages, with weblinks making it easy to execute specific care tasks across the continuum. This can be especially valuable for patients with one or multiple chronic conditions. With text messaging capability, any patient who missed their three-month appointment would receive a reminder via text message, which'll include a link to reschedule that appointment on their phone. To better illustrate this point, one health system stated in a recent patient engagement KLAS report that shifting to texting patients drove patient engagement. 1 "We ended up with a real mobile connection with our patients," the health system's executive said, citing a 50 percent response rate to texts. "We don't send emails because people don't read emails anymore." Real-time texts are sent automatically for very specific reasons, such as preparing for a visit, receiving important educational content, setting up appointments or speaking with a physician. Because patients use their mobile devices for everything from communication to banking, providers need to think about meeting patients where they are. Telehealth: Reaching beyond the standard patient visit Regardless of job, location or other life factors, it can be difficult for people to reach doctors, for their own health need, or those of their loved ones. Patients can leave messages, and due to their busy schedules are not available for call backs, or maybe they don't have the flexibility to take their children to the pediatrician during normal business hours. Often their only option is to go to an urgent care center in the evening. There is nothing uncommon about these scenarios, which is why many healthcare organizations are losing business to The evolution of patient engagement 2 Executive Briefing By Kim Franks, RN, Vice President & General Manager, Consumer Health, Allscripts "Healthcare organizations have a tremendous opportunity to reach patients and enable them to take a more active role in their care." — Kim Franks, RN, Vice President & General Manager, Consumer Health, Allscripts