Healthcare has been on the verge of transformation for years—and then, through necessity, the pandemic broke through barriers and resistance to change at a pace nobody could have imagined. This, says Linda Robinson, the vice president of clinical excellence at Journey PX, happened because healthcare professionals needed to make fast, strategic decisions to meet overwhelming demand.
In episode #6 of PX Space, you can hear her insights about the value of patient engagement technology. We also invite you to read the Journey PX article: From Bedside Manner to Web-Side Manner
Six areas of transformation brought about by patient education and engagement technology are as follows.
#1: Patient-Centric Healthcare Model
This model, which drives self care, was around well before the pandemic, but it hadn’t been fully embraced. Now, however, patients are empowered to serve as the captain of their own healthcare team. They can access the information and services they need through their patient engagement technology with the system arranged around the patient’s—not the healthcare facility’s—needs.
#2 Increased Usage of Telehealth
Twenty-seven percent of people tried telehealth for the first time during the pandemic’s height, Linda shares, and most are more willing to use it going forward—about 40 percent of those new users. Virtual visits are useful for so many reasons, including for people who don’t drive and for those who are managing chronic conditions. This allows them to get personalized healthcare from the comforts of home on an ongoing basis (instead of the one-size-fits-all information that people get from Google).
#3 Data Sharing Willingness
A significant number of patients are now willing to share their genetic data, a shift from previous reluctance. This allows for precision medicine to predict, prevent, and treat healthcare conditions in personalized ways. In short, when healthcare teams have access to this very specific information about you, they can serve you in much more tailored ways.
#4 Chronic Condition Management
Technologies of today are radically reshaping how medical professionals can help patients live more fully with their chronic disease conditions. Many of these patients are older, and their embracing of technology—from cell phones to telehealth visits and more—facilitates their willingness and ability to use other kinds of patient education technology. This allows them to monitor their health statuses and communicate with medical teams; the average person who is managing chronic conditions see more than seven physicians.
#5 Empowered Patients More Likely to Switch Providers
February 2022 data shows that 69 percent of patients will switch to a different healthcare provider to benefit from enhanced services. This is a significant switch from when a patient traditionally stayed with a provider for life. Now, in their search for the best answers, patients are willing to look for just what they need. This could include, as an example, switching to a doctor who offers virtual visits.
#6 Technology Advancements
Fortunately, much more effective and less expensive technologies are available to enhance care. This includes the Journey PX patient engagement technology.