Healthcare organizations around the world are continuously working to engage their patients and families using various technologies. They need to develop trust between the professionals who treat and the patients while maintaining proper care and satisfaction. But patient engagement is not easy for all healthcare centers to maintain.
A study by NEJM Catalyst Insights Council survey reveals that only 34% of the patients are actually engaged with the treatment, as per the practicing professionals. This has initiated a conversation about different ways to improve patient engagement in the healthcare sector.
There is intense research work to demonstrate that patients get better clinical results if they are involved actively in their own care. Therefore, it is now immensely important for healthcare centers to adopt strategies that can help build active patient participation.
- Use technology
Everyone in the world has hopped onto the technical bandwagon these days. All the industries are transforming themselves to become more contemporary and relatable in this technological world. Even the healthcare industry should now grow and develop technological patient engagement strategies. They can use portals to collect and show all the patient information in one place. One can also schedule online appointments, message their doctors, have video consultations, file prescription refill requests, and pay bills online through these portals.
Such features can easily connect the patients with their healthcare providers and also encourage them to ask for help right when it’s needed. These engagement programs can also help doctors connect with their patients on an individual level and provide better healthcare services. The possibility of the development of patient participation with technology is limitless, thus creating an effective ecosystem.
- Keep all the information simple
As a specialized sector, all the people in the healthcare industry love to use acronyms and jargon. But it gets complicated for the patients and their families to understand the jargon completely. Therefore, to promote universal understanding, clinicians and other working professionals should try to explain concepts in as simple words as possible.
By keeping things simple, like they are meant for a sixth-grade student, healthcare professionals can immediately connect with their patients. This will help the patients understand their condition better and even ask questions related to it. They can also communicate about the problems they have been facing and notice more symptoms. This advanced comfort of communication can also help the patients make an informed decision about their healthcare.
- Involve the patient and family through technology
Cloud computing is also a booming concept in the technological sphere, and companies are using it in diverse ways for their benefit. This concept also offers accessibility in facilitating patient engagement. The involvement of families is very important, specifically in the cases of the elderly, as they can plan the care and their role in the recovery process.
A technological platform that brings together all the information is very helpful in ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Through these technological collaborations, all the information is also trackable and shareable. This seamless collaboration between the healthcare providers, the patients, and their families can create a hassle-free experience for all, thus promoting engagement.
- Leverage data from patient feedback
The healthcare sector is also overflowing with data, both structured and unstructured, in the current times. Be it from fitness wearables to other healthcare devices or tests, a lot of patient data is generated on a daily basis. This data can help health care providers to understand the risk level of their patients and take the required actions.
Healthcare providers can also collect and collate patient feedback so that they get actionable insights. Such efforts can go a long way in patient engagement with the thorough attention put on every individual. Technology can also assist in this step tremendously.
- Treatment and post-treatment care
Patient engagement is not only limited to the four walls of the healthcare center. Once the patient registers and starts taking treatment, then his or her connection with the healthcare provider should continue post-treatment as well. This can facilitate healthy operating conditions and help the patients in the future.
With the help of software and apps that can provide post-treatment care, health care providers can increase their communication with the patients. There can be features like automated scheduling of follow-up visits and prescription refill notifications such as in different patient portals. When technology is used in conjugation with such healthcare techniques, patients are actively involved with the whole operation. Even after the treatment, they stay in the loop, thus becoming more engaged.
By creating stable sync between technology and traditional mediums, healthcare sectors can enforce patient engagement at a wider scale. However, there is no singular magic formula to achieve 100% patient engagement in healthcare. With more knowledge and experience, both the professionals and the patients can help each other engage and treat ailments better.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
