More than 133 million Americans deal with at least one chronic disease. As you can see, this is quite a considerable number, almost half the population. But thankfully, the healthcare teams are doing their best to improve the health and lives of these patients. One way the medics are doing that is through patient engagement. According to research, patients can live healthier lives if they are actively involved in their care management. Unfortunately, only 34% of patients are actively engaged in their care, according to a survey conducted by NEJM Catalysts insights.
So, how can healthcare providers improve engagement among patients suffering from chronic illnesses? Read on to learn about patient engagement strategies to employ for better outcomes.
What is Patient Engagement, and Why is It Important?
Patient engagement is when a patient is actively involved in their own healthcare by working with a healthcare provider. It also includes the steps a person takes to benefit more from healthcare services and providers.
The main benefit of patient engagement is that it leads to better outcomes and can improve a person’s quality of life. But besides this, some studies say that it may reduce costs.
But note that while patient engagement is crucial, many patients still don’t participate for various reasons, including poor communication between the patient and providers, geographical barriers, etc. Such factors can make it hard to treat chronic conditions, especially if a patient suffers from two or more illnesses.
5 Ways to Improve Patient Engagement in Patients Who Need Chronic Care
Please note that engaging patients isn’t easy. However, several strategies can help improve patients’ participation and deliver better outcomes. Let us look at the five steps to improve patient engagement from those with chronic illnesses.
#1. Educate Patients About Their Healthcare
Often doctors and healthcare providers assume that all patients understand the information they share. But as it turns out, this is far from the truth. The American Journal of Medicine states that more than 50% of patients with chronic illnesses don’t get clinical benefits from their treatment due to poor compliance.
But, when a patient doesn’t adhere to the steps provided by their healthcare, it leads to poor outcomes, more hospital stays, and lower quality of life. It’s thus essential for healthcare workers to educate patients as part of chronic disease management.
Healthcare providers should ensure that the patient understands their diagnosis and the steps they can take to improve their health. When patients understand the recommended treatment and care guidelines, they will likely put more effort into improving their health. In fact, a study revealed that 67% of patients remained compliant after receiving educational materials.
Clinicians should ensure clear communication right from the start. They need to answer the patients’ questions and educate them about the conditions they suffer from. It’s also wise to help patients access resources and medications they can use.
#2. Automate Patient Reminders
The traditional patient engagement method involves routine calls and task reminders. Although these are necessary to keep the patients active, they are time-consuming and hard to follow among healthcare providers taking care of many patients simultaneously.
But, thanks to technological advancement, patients can now create portals on their healthcare provider’s website. Then these providers can send updates and reminders to the patient through these portals. As a result, it saves time while ensuring patients know what to do to manage their conditions.
#3. Engage Patients in Decision Making
Often doctors like to call the shots and impose their decisions on customers. This strategy might work since the providers know much more than the patient about the treatment they need. But as it turns out, not involving a patient in the decision-making leads to poor outcomes.
Clinicians and patients need to work together to decide on the tests, medications, treatments, and care plans suitable for the patient. To encourage participation, providers need to consider the patient’s dreams and goals during decision-making. The patient will participate more in a treatment plan they helped decide.
#4. Make Use of Mobile Technology
Healthcare systems need to take advantage of mobile technology. There are apps for games, fitness, and communication. So why not make an app for healthcare services, especially among chronic illness sufferers?
A mobile application can assist medics in managing their patients better and providing quality care. Plus, it can also help improve patient participation. The patient can input their progress and challenges daily for their providers to review. Clinicians can then use this information to address a patient’s chronic condition.
#5. Use Care Management Programs
Various care management programs can help improve the participation of patients. These programs help to customize an individual treatment program while minimizing hospital visits. Such programs include Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) and Chronic Care Management (CCM).
These programs allow clinicians to offer healthcare beyond the office space, and the good thing is that they are billable. Providers can use these programs to engage with patients from their homes. As such, they can easily monitor their vitals, medical adherence, and lifestyle and take the correct steps to improve a patient’s health.
Related article: Best virtual care : HaH, RTM, RPM or CCM
Final Thoughts
Patient engagement is crucial in improving lives among people living with chronic illnesses. The above strategies can help increase patients’ participation, improve treatment outcomes, and even extend lives.
