As we approach Memorial Day Weekend, it’s a great time to educate patients about the importance of heat safety, whether it’s during work or play. Seasonal wellness and prevention campaigns are a great way to increase patient engagement and improve patient communication. Whether you have a small practice or are part of a larger healthcare system, there are many tactics you can use to empower patients to take a more active role in their health.…
With the ever-growing popularity of YouTube, Pinterest and video on Facebook, more and more people are preferring illustrated information like infographics over the written word. Infographics allow patients to digest complex information faster and more easily. In fact, 1/3 of your brain is involved in visual processing.¹ Here are six reasons why it’s a good idea to include infographics within the content of your website and social media accounts to help educate patients.…
Both providers and patients have realized the convenience and flexibility that text communications provide, and healthcare practices are beginning to embrace texting as an essential tool for increasing provider-patient engagement and improving patient experience. As mobile phone usage continues to increase, text communications are not only more Iikely to be considered acceptable by patients—texting is becoming the preferred channel for patient communications as well.…
May is Healthy Vision Month and a great time to raise awareness about eye health and promote strategies to help prevent vision loss and blindness. Many Americans get a physical every year, but 23 million adults have never had their eyes examined, according to a national survey conducted by the National Eye Institute (NEI).…
Although many healthcare practices have not yet embraced automated patient communications, studies show that patients are increasingly more accepting of and prefer automated communications from their providers and healthcare teams. In fact, 76 percent of Americans are interested in receiving automated communications from their healthcare providers. An appointment reminder strategy that incudes elements for increased acceptance, higher response rates and automation offers a number of advantages, including improved patient experience, increased staff efficiency and reduced no-shows.…
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.…
