How Providers are Increasing Patient Engagement in 2018

The development and growth of patient engagement is an important part of any medical practice, but it doesn’t just happen. Providers who make sure they are cultivating an environment for patients to stay active in their personal care are the ones who are seeing the best results. They are seeing patients who care deeply about their personal health and want to live a healthful life.

 Through different tools of communication and accountability, patients are able to play a more intensive role in their care continuum. Increasing patient engagement helps to better the outcomes of patients all over the nation. It helps them to quickly catch red flags, and address underlying issues and health concerns. It motivates the patient to care more deeply about where their well-being stands, and where it is going. The key to increasing patient engagement is utilizing the right tools that engage patients effectively.

1)  EHR Mobile App

In this day and age, having a flexible and reachable provider means the world to patients. Having a mobile app available for patients is one of the best ways to increase patient engagement. The mobile app makes it simple for a patient to access their provider during their busy day-to-day lives. People are constantly on the go, unable to take a moment to log onto their computer or call their doctor’s office. With the mobile app, they can contact their provider, look at test/lab results and schedule appointments wherever they are at. This makes a world of difference when trying to increase patient engagement. Patients who have been too busy to stay active in their personal health are now able to stay engaged, set personal health goals and achieve a better well-being.

2)    Telehealth

It is not always possible for patients to make it into the office to visit with their physicians, address health concerns or ask important questions, so in order to make healthy decisions and form detailed care plans, patients need a quick, effortless option for checking in with their primary care physician. Telehealth is a key tool for increasing patient engagement. It allows patients to access their provider from the comfort of their home or from a telehealth mobile app on the go. Through video conferencing patients can visit with their doctor just like they would in the office. Telehealth enables patients to take on the challenges of their personal care head-on, develop care plans with their providers and conquer their health each day. Not only does it offer a more convenient way to visit with a provider, it saves the patient time and money during their day. Visits are quick, accessible, and effortless.

3)    Patient Portal

The third and one of the most important tools is the patient portal. The patient portal is instrumental in increasing patient engagement because it is the most accessible and understandable tool that patients have access to. With one log-in, patients have access to a plethora of different tools that allow them to understand their health in a new and exciting way. The patient portal increases patient engagement by allowing patients to easily message their providers with questions and concerns, as well as bring up health issues when they occur. It also increases patient engagement by helping a patient better comprehend their health stats and lab results. This understanding helps them stay accountable for any given treatment plans and increase the number of positive outcomes at a practice.

These three tools are three of the most important tools a provider can use to increase patient engagement at their practice. Healthcare providers across the nation who utilize telehealth, an EHR mobile app and/or a patient portal are seeing more patient engagement and better health outcomes across the board.

If you’re interested in learning more about one of these tools or seeing first-hand how they work, contact our team. We’re happy to provide answers to your questions or give you a free demo.