How to Improve Patient Engagement With Digital Tools

An increasingly important topic within the healthcare industry is patient engagement, though the recent trend toward the consumerization of healthcare has arguably made it even more crucial.

Now, more than ever, patients want to be actively engaged and feel empowered in all aspects of their healthcare as decision-makers. Patients also expect convenience, transparency and relative ease while navigating any step along their healthcare journey.

For providers, the problem lies in determining how best to satisfy this need, especially because their bottom line can now suffer the consequences or benefit from the switch to a value-based model of care. The burden to improve and spark patient engagement rests in the hands of providers—a fact most know all too well. In fact, a 2017 report from Deloitte found that the top priority among healthcare consumers was “the personalization of care.” To meet the evolving needs of patients and better engage with them as consumers, hospital leaders are looking to invest in innovative patient engagement techniques.

For hospitals that lack staff, expertise or big budgets, meeting those challenges within the patient engagement continuum can feel overwhelming and difficult to tackle at first. However, the use of digital tools, patient-focused strategies and the ability to self-schedule appointments can go a long way in improving patient engagement.

A sophisticated patient engagement strategy can improve:

1. Loyalty: Consumerism and competition are driving healthcare providers to rethink how they provide healthcare services. Healthcare’s trend toward a customer-centric philosophy means patients’ expectations for service are much higher.
2. Quality: Patient engagement has the potential to improve quality of care and lower costs.
3. Satisfaction: The dollars earned by hospitals and healthcare facilities are tied to patient engagement, and ultimately, a patient’s satisfaction with their overall experience.
4. Reimbursement: Disease management in the United States is shifting from acute to chronic conditions that accounts for three of every four dollars spent on healthcare. Successful organizations can manage population health costs and improve wellness effectively through active patient engagement.

Implementing customer-centric digital tools that foster communication, whether through a patient portal, self-scheduling application, continuing education opportunities or direct digital access to their provider, is an effective long-term strategy to boost engagement within your hospital or healthcare facility.

Put patient engagement at the top of your priority list. Email us at inquiries@medhost.com or call 1.800.383.6278 to speak with one of our specialists about how our solutions and engagement platforms help enable enhanced care, streamline facility management, and maximize patient volumes and profitability.

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