Increasing Patient Engagement at Your Health System

One of the main ways healthcare is changing, even from just a few years ago, is through the integration of technology. That’s not just due to the digitization of health records, it’s also because most people have smartphones — computers that come with us everywhere we go. Phones are a great way to collect data and connect with caregivers.

At Expo.Health in Boston, Lygeia Ricciardi, chief transformation officer at Carium, a company that helps healthcare organizations provide high-value care, told Inside Digital Health™ that health systems need to be thinking about how they can reach their patients outside of the traditional care setting.

Patients don’t spend much time in a year under the care of their physician, she said.

“However, nowadays you can use all kinds of different technology to extend care and to extend the connection to your healthcare providers beyond the walls of a clinic or a hospital,” Ricciardi said.

Health systems can stay connected with patients asynchronously through text messages and email. Or providers can use telemedicine or video chat to record and share data, she said.

This helps the patient and provider maintain a connection over time as the patient goes about their daily life, Ricciardi added.

And Carium seeks to do this through phone-based applications.

Patients can use their phone to capture and share health data and communicate with members of their care teams. This approach allows patients to get notifications, reminders and guidance while going through their day-to-day lives.

Providers can then use the patient-reported data to collaborate with the patient on the best treatment path to drive better outcomes, Carium claims.

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