Add patient engagement to the list of open-ended healthcare terms.
A 2013 Health Policy Brief from Health Affairs even described it as “a broader concept that combines patient activation with interventions designed to increase activation and promote positive patient behavior, such as obtaining preventive care or exercising regularly.” Pretty ambiguous.
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As the term is inherently vague, it takes on different meanings for everyone. For some organizations, it means something very simple, like sending patients a text message to remind them of their appointment. For others, it involves a more complex strategy, such as building an entirely new patient waiting room.
The field of patient engagement is growing rapidly, with hospitals, startups, physicians and payers implementing a variety of new measures. And it’s a topic that we aim to explore fully at MedCity ENGAGE, our conference in San Diego October 23-24, for which we want your help to create compelling and meaningful discussions. These are the some of the categories we are interested in.
Payers
A 2011 report from management consulting firm A.T. Kearney outlined the need for health insurers to better engage with patients. Health insurers possess massive amounts of patient data. The authors claim that payers can utilize this data to understand their patients’ needs, engage them and eventually change their behaviors, which will result in lower costs.
Hospitals and health systems
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A decent majority — 69 percent — of hospitals and health systems are taking on patient engagement initiatives, according to a 2016 NEJM Catalyst survey. Of the 369 survey respondents, 38 percent said patient portals are the most effective means of patient engagement. Others pointed to care coordinators and good, old-fashioned phone conversations as the best ways to engage patients.
Technology companies and startups
Tech companies are on the forefront of innovation in the patient engagement space. For instance, Voxiva and Sense Health recently partnered to form Wellpass, through which providers can send messages to Medicaid patients. Startup Pillo, an Amazon Alexa-like home robot, engages patients by answering their questions and dispensing their medication.
Patients
Last but certainly not least, what are patients looking for? What keeps them engaged in their own care, health and wellness?
So listen up payers, health systems, technology companies, doctors, nurses, and patients. What are the challenges and opportunities for each of you in patient engagement and in wellness? What strategies and programs have worked? What hasn’t? Is there an ROI to patient engagement initiatives and wellness programs? Is there a case study or use case that is worth adopting?
We are looking for, ahem, engaging speakers so fill out the form below and maybe you’ll find yourself in sunny San Diego in the Fall addressing a roomful of innovators and change agents passionate about patient engagement and wellness.
Photo: David Sutherland, Getty Images