Effective Patient Engagement Solutions Are Beneficial for All Stakeholders in Healthcare

Lots of people fall sick, go to a doctor, get medication and get better. But the complete recovery depends upon the patient’s adherence to the course of medication. It is no secret that a lot of people forget to take their pills on time, or just neglect it. This not only demonstrates a lack of seriousness about one’s own health, but also a lack of knowledge to some extent. Numerous studies and research have concluded that a lack of proper adherence to medication or treatment often worsens an illness. Additionally, it also costs the healthcare system billions of dollars. 

Patient engagement are known to educate patients better and encourage them to follow their doctor’s advice strictly.  

Patient engagement is a concept that aims to educate and enable patients to manage their own healthcare and wellness better. It does so first and foremost by improving the interaction between doctors and patients. The process of healthcare has always been about doctors talking and patients listening and following their advice. In other words, it has been unidirectional. But patient engagement in healthcare aims to change that. That is because real care happens when the patient leaves the clinic.

Patients need to be better aware of the pills they consume and the treatment they will undergo. Moreover, they also need to be made aware of the condition that ails them, and how they got it. It could be because of unhealthy lifestyle choices like smoking, drinking, fast food; or it could be hereditary, or for a myriad of other reasons. Only when the patients know more about their conditions and how they contracted them in the first place, would they be in a better position to participate in their own care.

Patient engagement companies enable doctors and patients to keep in touch on a regular basis. Things like telehealth applications, chatbots, and patient portals help patients get in touch with their doctors to have any doubts clarified. These doubts could be about the dosage of their medication, or could be about any tests they need to take, or the kinds of foods they need to avoid, and so forth. It is natural for people without a medical degree or knowledge about wellness and nutrition to not know about what lifestyle to follow according to which disease.

This knowledge, along with a means to get in touch with their doctors for clarifications mean that patients would be better informed about their condition. A patient engagement solution that can assess medical data can also help doctors develop customized patient engagement strategies for every patient. Not every patient is the same. A treatment that works well for one patient, might not be as effective for another. This is especially true in cases of chronic disease and cancer. People with such diseases often need constant care and observation. Tailored engagement fitting a patient’s condition is known to have better clinical outcomes.

Another benefit from patient engagement platform is the rapport that develops between doctors and patients. As a result, the patients are less likely to change their doctor. Consequently, the doctors also benefit from loyal patients. To sum it up, patient engagement improves the clinical outcomes of patients, reduces medical spending (helping payers) and also benefits doctors in terms of patient loyalty.