Patient Engagement Blog

In recent years, population health has become an increasingly effective way for healthcare professionals to develop a stronger understanding and improve the health of their communities. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the need for proactive management of population health.

Healthcare has never been more competitive than it is today. The rise of healthcare consumerism has completely changed the game. Modern consumers have higher expectations in terms of the cost, quality, and type of care they receive. They’re also more willing than ever before to switch providers in pursuit of a better care experience when those expectations aren’t being met.

The shift from volume-based to value-based care has completely transformed the healthcare industry. Value-based care is a form of reimbursement in which providers are paid for care delivery based on the quality of care provided.

COVID-19 has uprooted many firmly held processes at healthcare practices, initiating a fundamental shift in the way care is delivered. Like so many other areas of our lives, the patient journey looks vastly different amid the health crisis.

The healthcare industry is no stranger to change. From adopting new care-delivery and payment models to embracing modern technology and aligning with consumer expectations, it’s clear that today’s healthcare practices have their hands full. 

In recent years, we’ve seen the steady rise of healthcare consumerism, or the enabling of patients to become more involved in their care decisions. The emergence of new healthcare IT tools and ever-evolving care landscape have transformed the industry, empowering consumers to step up and take their health into their own hands. 

The patient registration process needs to be as simple as possible for everyone involved, from patients to practice staff and providers. The rise of healthcare consumerism has expanded care access to big-box retail stores like CVS,Walgreens, and Walmart further accelerating the need for a seamless registration experience. Today, it’s an absolute must for practices to avoid losing patients to competitors.

COVID-19 has changed nearly everything about our daily lives, from the way we shop and socialize to how we approach healthcare. For providers and their practices, the global health crisis has rapidly accelerated the need for remote patient care tactics. The question is, what can healthcare practices do to engage patients and keep them up to date during such unprecedented times?

Electronic health records (EHRs) play a vital role in modern healthcare. 

EHR vendors develop their systems to facilitate tools providers can use to document their clinical encounters and manage the patient record. In recent years, EHR vendors have also been looking to serve the patient in terms of new technologies to keep them wired into their health and associated providers. 

These days, nearly every healthcare practice uses some type of portal to engage patients and improve health outcomes. A recent survey revealed that 90 percent of healthcare organizations offer portal access to their patients. However, despite this widespread adoption, the same survey found that less than one-third of patients actively use the portal available to them.