The burden of chronic disease weighs heavily on America. According to the CDC, chronic diseases are the leading cause of death, disability and healthcare costs in the United States. Unfortunately, half of adults have one chronic disease and one in four adults has two or more. ¹ That’s why the CDC and other policymakers are focused on finding new, more effective ways to control chronic disease.…
Three in four patients with a chronic illness believe they could avoid being readmitted if they managed their own disease better, and nine in ten healthcare providers agree. Yet, less than a third of hospitals automatically follow up with every patient after discharge.1
Proactive patient communication is key to engaging with patients at home and providing the daily and continuous support they need.…
High readmission rates can threaten a hospital’s financial health. In fact, readmission penalties cost hospitals $41 billion annually.¹ A new West study shows that many patients with chronic conditions are being readmitted for the same condition and pose the highest risk. Between 33 and 69 percent of hospital admissions are due to medication nonadherence,² yet less than half of patients are being regularly questioned about medication use.…
A new West report, “Breaking the Readmissions Cycle: Minimizing Readmission Risks Through Better Patient Communications,” found that even though approximately 75 percent of hospitals are consistently penalized for excessive readmissions, only 39 percent automatically follow up with every patient after discharge.
While reaching out to every patient may seem too costly or time-consuming to manage, leveraging technology-enabled communications makes it easy for healthcare organizations to connect with patients and provide the ongoing support they need.…
A new West study, “Breaking the Readmissions Cycle: Minimizing Readmission Risks Through Better Patient Communications,” found that even though approximately 75 percent of hospitals are consistently penalized for readmissions, only 39 percent automatically follow up with every patient after discharge. The complexity of managing chronic conditions is more than many patients can handle on their own, resulting in a cycle of patients becoming ill, being hospitalized and released, and then being readmitted for the same condition.…
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of death in the United States, yet screenings are often underused. Catching the disease early can increase a 5-year survival rate to 90%.¹ To combat the disease, healthcare providers can take advantage of Colorectal Cancer Month by educating patients about early detection and prevention.…
The call center has traditionally been thought of as an organization’s voice to its patients, answering calls and transferring them to the right department. A modernized contact center is tasked with much more—creating a connected experience across all channels, for all patients, and at every interaction.
Accomplishing this level of service requires healthcare organizations tapping into their data and turning it into intelligent next steps for patient interactions.…
Healthcare teams play a crucial role in helping their chronic patients stay well. To deliver the ongoing support these patients need and improve the quality of care provided to them, providers are using automated notifications in innovative ways. Maintaining ongoing communication leads patients to be engaged in their care, enabling providers to influence their patients to adopt healthier lifestyles and stay active in their ongoing care.…
In order to grow and maintain financial stability, dental practices must find the most cost-efficient ways to increase revenue and reduce bad debt. Smart practices are using their patient communication technology to do more than just send appointment reminders. Here are three ways a technology you likely already use can be leveraged to reduce costly no-shows, prompt patients to pay their bills and generate new revenue for your dental or orthodontic practice.…
February is American Heart Month, which is a great opportunity to focus on raising awareness of the risk of heart disease, educating patients about their risk and encouraging them to make their heart health a priority. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women.…
