The U.S. healthcare system has undoubtedly made remarkable strides in clinical care, excelling in innovative medical treatments, state-of-the-art technology, and globally esteemed healthcare institutions. However, it sometimes falls short of providing an exceptional patient experience.
But here's the silver lining: positive change is on the horizon.
The system is shifting away from the conventional fee-for-service model, which often prioritizes quantity and embraces value-based care (VBC). This model emphasizes not just the amount of care but, more importantly, the quality of care delivered to patients.
Nevertheless, the transition isn't easy; there are hurdles like fragmented data, non-standardized quality metrics, and inefficient care team communication.
In this article, let's discuss how technological tools can enable medical practices to be successful in value-based healthcare models.
Value-based care and patient experience are interconnected. Three fundamental quality metrics in value-based care—patient satisfaction, preventive care screenings, and care coordination—are intricately tied to the overall patient experience.
However, a recent report from PatientPoint reveals a disturbing reality: nearly half of all Americans experience heightened anxiety before visiting a healthcare provider. A primary contributor to this issue is the evident gap in health education. This is precisely where digital technology emerges as a valuable tool, capable of elevating the patient experience and supporting healthcare practices in their commitment to delivering value-based care.
Let's take a peek at the digital tools you can incorporate into your private practice to elevate patient outcomes.
Fear of what lies ahead during a doctor's visit was a significant factor that led 40% of PatientPoint survey respondents to delay their appointments with healthcare providers. Nevertheless, the survey also reveals that 55% of participants feel health education during or before (43%) appointments would improve their conversations with healthcare providers.
Digital signs, both in waiting rooms and exam rooms, can deliver personalized information to patients and enable a better understanding of their health concerns. This pre-visit education encourages them to engage more actively with their healthcare providers. It also equips them to make decisions like signing up for patient portals, scheduling preventive check-ups like mammograms, cancer screenings, and vaccinations, or discussing new treatment options.
Digital screens are revolutionizing value-based care, offering essential time-saving advantages to healthcare providers. As the industry grapples with burnout across its workforce, providers are actively exploring avenues to boost efficiency.
One noteworthy solution is the integration of touchscreens into the healthcare environment, which are proving to be game-changers. These screens are not just convenient; they're transformative. They empower staff to save time by simplifying check-ins and providing curated educational content and helpful tools like 3D anatomical models and interactive whiteboards, facilitating more effective discussions on complex health topics.
Gaining a better understanding of their health condition empowers individuals to take control of their health, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes.
Modern Electronic Health Record Systems (EHRs) with interactive analytics are integral to the journey of Value-Based Care (VBC). They're tech-savvy systems that can handle tons of patient data securely and in real-time, which is crucial for today's healthcare organizations.
Advanced EHRs help healthcare providers automate tasks like medical coding (avoid billing and coding errors), identify essential trends in medical data, and assist in making informed decisions. Healthcare providers can use analytics to fine-tune their EHRs, addressing gaps in patient care and giving extra attention to individuals with chronic conditions.
Some EHRs go further by incorporating population health analytics. They receive support from organizations like Health Information Networks (HINs) and Health Information Exchanges (HIEs), which help providers utilize EHRs effectively, enhance care quality, and streamline claims reporting.
Another potent use of EHR is in payment models. They support payment models like MIPS and APMs, which is essential for pay-for-performance programs such as Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+). These programs foster collaboration between CMS and insurers to deliver better care coordination, reduce costs, and enable providers to assess their performance compared to others, driving ongoing improvements.
Digital therapeutics are like a personal health companion, making it easier for your patients to take an active role in their health management and enabling them to stay on track with their health goals.
For example, app-based digital patient engagement tools provide patients with a convenient digital platform to stay committed to their health goals and seek guidance for any queries that arise between medical visits.
Moreover, digital therapeutics solutions offer at-home monitoring options, particularly beneficial for elderly patients and those in remote areas. For example, the physical therapy exercise apps for home rehabilitation post-surgery provide patients with virtual avatars that guide them through exercises, ensuring they stay on track.
Some of these apps with digital wearable devices offer surgeons real-time feedback, enhancing the monitoring of joint range of motion, number of steps, and activity levels. By facilitating proactive patient engagement and at-home monitoring, digital therapeutics tools exemplify the kind of quality care that value-based initiatives champion.
Integrating precision medicine tools into the value-based care framework is groundbreaking, especially as more consumers delve into their genetic profiles. This trend has empowered patients with a deeper understanding of their genetic predispositions to diseases, ushering in an era of heightened patient engagement.
Notably, even the American Medical Association underscores the significance of precision medicine, recognizing its potential to revolutionize disease diagnosis and treatment, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes.
Furthermore, combining genetic data with wearable device information opens new avenues for understanding diseases. Databases that monitor medication effectiveness among patients with similar genetic profiles have enabled the customization of treatments to each patient's unique genetic makeup. This transition from reactive to proactive care lies at the core of precision medicine's impact on value-based care.
Effective decision-making within a clinical setting is paramount, as it directly influences the treatment outcome. With the advent of AI, clinical decision-making has reached new heights of precision and efficiency.
Key AI capabilities include:
AI also aids in managing documentation, charting, and scheduling, saving physicians precious time. By harnessing the power of AI, healthcare organizations can deliver higher-quality care, improve patient outcomes, and control costs—ultimately achieving the goals of value-based care models.
In today's tech-driven era, healthcare providers who adopt technology and wholeheartedly commit to providing a tech-forward patient experience can gain people's trust. Trust is imperative in a patient-physician relationship as it brings tangible benefits, such as improved communication, enhanced adherence to care plans, and, ultimately, better health outcomes.
Glenwood advanced tools continuously evolve to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, supporting numerous private practices in offering flexible billing solutions and telehealth services. If you want to enhance your patient experience, contact us for a demo. We'd love to explore how we can contribute to your practice's success in value-based care.
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