“Patient engagement is the blockbuster drug of the century” Mike Millard.
Patient engagement is increasingly recognised as an integral part of healthcare deliverables.
There is nothing more important than having engaged patients because they often feel more
involved and invested. Engaged patients tend to have better follow-through on their care
plan, have lower rates of hospital readmission, and reduction in poorer outcomes that are
associated with chronic disease. Overall greater patient engagement is linked to improved
health outcomes.
Give some thought and you will find patient engagement is similar to the concept of
consumer engagement or customer satisfaction. In a broader view, it embraces different
tools, actions, and processes that help healthcare providers and patients arrive at informed
decisions.
Patient Engagement benefits to patients
Reduces crisis/emergency care visits– When patients collaborate with the healthcare
provider, they will be in a better place in recognizing the red flags related to their disease
and avert emergency situations.
Taking ownership of one’s health – Patient engagement offers better access to their
health data which will encourage them to take ownership of their well-being.
Round-the-clock access and monitoring – Patients will have access to information 24/7
anywhere and anytime which adds to their ease.
Patient Engagement, how it benefits medical practice?
Patient engagement is about shared responsibility – Patient engagement facilitates
healthcare providers to share the responsibility of care and management with the patient. It’s
not just on the physician or the healthcare provider, but it falls on the patient as well.
Improved health outcomes – Patient engagement practices communicate quality
healthcare outcomes. Healthcare providers can now prevent negative results through
effective communication and collaboration with the patient.
Increased revenue and decreased overheads –Patient engagement drives active
participation, the patient will appear for regular wellness exams, tests, scans, etc. The
routine check-up will go a long way to help diagnose illness in the earlier stages. An
engaged patient will take necessary treatments at the right time while eliminating the disease
with a greater success rate.
Increased patient retention rate – When the patients are engaged, the overall care and
patient retention become easier for the provider which opens the door for healthcare in the
long run.
Better compliance with healthcare plans – With technology healthcare is at the cusp of
growth. It’s easier for anyone to book appointments online or to clear a doubt instantly.
Clearly, this will lead to consistent doctor visits and greater compliance.
Empowering patient and making them accountable for their health will lead to better health
outcomes. Patient engagement is an important factor for the long-term success of healthcare
organizations.