Is technology the answer to creating healthier patients? If empowering patients makes them more engaged and engaged patients tend to be healthier, the real question is how do doctors empower their patients?
The answer: Give them easy access to their health.
Just this year, three tech giants expanded their products to include a digital health offering. Additionally, the mHealth market is predicted to hit $26 billion globally by 2017, according to the Global Mobile Health Market Report. Not only is healthcare technology dominating the consumer market – it’s quickly being adopted in hospitals and practices. Elisabeth Myers, policy and outreach lead at the CMS Office of eHealth Standards and Services, recently shared that eligible hospitals and physicians have been paid $23.7 billion in electronic health record incentive payments as of May 2014. HIT at the doctor’s office has made the patient’s healthcare experience easier and less of a hassle. Why? It gives them the power to take control of their own health.
So as a doctor, what can you do to keep your patients involved and empowered? Here are three technologies being implemented into practices around the country that are allowing patients easier access to their care:
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Patient portals
What are some of the reasons patients call a doctor’s office? The primary ones include reviewing lab results and requesting a prescription refill or an appointment. How do you simplify that process? Implement a patient portal that makes it easy to find a doctor based on payment method, specialty and location. If a patient is able to log on, he or she can review results, ask questions and send requests from their computer or mobile phone, giving them no excuse to avoid regular checkups or put off seeing their physician.
Mobile apps
Mobility is no longer considered advanced; it’s an expectation. eMarketer released a study that found 1.76 billion people will own and use a smartphone by the end of 2014. That’s a quarter of the world’s population. People want to be able to access everything they need on their phone, including their health records, visit history and vitals, as well as take actions like scheduling appointments. Much like individuals can access their private banking information via a mobile app, they should be able to get to their personal health records immediately, not one week later, when the hard copy finally arrives in the mail. Integration with devices will aid in tracking health factors including activity, sleep, blood pressure and weight.
Telehealth
While it’s unlikely that patients will ever stop going to the doctor’s office altogether, telehealth is making it possible to be treated remotely. The convenience is an obvious benefit, but even more important is the opportunity to improve communication between the doctor and patient. Telehealth enables patients to communicate with their doctors and maintain their health on a consistent basis. Here’s an example: A diabetic patient uses a mobile app linked to his or her EHR. Every day his/her sugar and glucose levels are recorded, uploaded to the mobile app and saved. If there’s an uptick in the patient’s reading, it’s flagged to the doctor so that further risk can be prevented. Patients are engaging with their health and, chances are, they’re more conscious of their habits because they’re recording it every day.
The benefits of technology in healthcare are innumerable, and 2014 is only the tip of the iceberg. With mobile usage positioned to grow exponentially and digital health solutions being rapidly adopted, it’s fair to say that doctors need to think about which technologies are best suited for their practice and their patients. After all, technology is the answer to healthier patients.
Date: August 18, 2014