This post is sponsored by Validic and is the first article in a six-part series.
Our current healthcare system can often function with the patient on the outskirts. To combat this systemic problem, providers are adopting health IT in greater numbers, and healthcare is finally starting to become patient-centric.
Chris Edwards, Validic
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It is a transformative time in healthcare, and patient engagement is at the center of this metamorphosis. As the healthcare industry wrestles with not “over-medicalizing” care and keeping patients at the center of a fractured and top-heavy system, consumers are also becoming actively involved in their own health. Providers engaging patients coupled with patients better monitoring and managing their own care is helping the overall health of individuals and populations.
From Amazon to Uber to Facebook, many companies in a variety of industries were built entirely around the consumer’s experience. Key to that experience is data. Amazon analyzes your data to make recommendations for future purchases. Uber uses your data to send a car conveniently to your location. Facebook shares your data with your network to better connect you to your friends and family. We permission our data to these companies for a better experience, a more convenient experience and a community experience. Why can’t we have that relationship with healthcare?
The healthcare industry needs this consumer-centric approach. Patient-generated data will play a significant role in making this happen. Patient-generated data can tap an underlying psychology that exists in every person for relating, connecting and sharing.
Patients are using digital health devices to self-manage, self-treat and self-diagnose. In utilizing these devices, they are creating a wealth of data that is applicable and relevant to healthcare providers. But, only one in 10 people are actually sharing this data with a clinician. This is in part because of the divide that exists between patients and clinicians.
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Patients deserve a healthcare system that allows them to connect, share and participate in. Patients deserve the ability to share their health data in return for better outcomes. Patients deserve access to their health information at any time via any channel. Patients deserve a truly engaging healthcare system.
If it is communicated to patients that generating, monitoring and sharing their health data could lead to a healthier and happier life, they would be inclined to connect and become more engaged. There is an incentive and reason for sharing.
Providers are not the only healthcare entities that can incentivize this behavior. Health insurance companies can reduce insurance rates for participants sharing this information and increasing their physical activities. The financial incentive makes the likelihood of patient engagement even greater. We are beginning to see healthcare organizations take this approach. Even the life insurance company John Hancock has started addressing these financial incentives for wellness data.
An outcome-oriented patient is an engaged patient. And, as the ecosystem of healthcare organizations, providers and technology companies explore and experiment with new digital health initiatives, they should remember one guiding truth: you will always get it right when you focus on the patient’s perspective and experience.
About Chris Edwards
Chris is the Chief Marketing Officer at Validic, the industry’s leading digital health platform. Validic connects actionable data from clinical devices, fitness wearables, biometric sensors and wellness applications to hospitals, payers, pharma, wellness companies and health IT vendors. Chris has been running global marketing and strategy for healthcare technology B2B and B2C companies for over 20 years. He has a passion to put the “health” back into “healthcare,” and can be followed on twitter @chrissedwards.
For more of Chris’ thoughts on patient engagement and healthcare innovation, watch the video.
