Posted on December 17, 2019 by West Corporation
In 2019, millennials are expected to surpass baby boomers to become the largest living adult population in the U.S. For healthcare providers who have been intently focused on understanding and meeting the needs of baby boomers for years, it is helpful to step back and really consider what millennial patients want and expect out of healthcare experiences—particularly when it comes to communication from their healthcare team.… Read more
Posted on December 10, 2019 by West Corporation
Many Americans believe healthcare is trailing behind other industries when it comes to customer experiences. According to a West survey of 1036 adults and 317 healthcare professionals in the U.S., approximately one in three patients rate healthcare behind the grocery (30%), travel (30%), entertainment (29%), financial services (29%) and electronics (29%) industries when it comes to delivering consumer experiences.… Read more
Posted on December 3, 2019 by West Corporation
Millions of adults in the U.S. with chronic health conditions are rushed to the emergency room each year because of chest pain. When chest pain strikes, it is difficult for patients to know whether the pain is heart-related and caused by a medical emergency, or whether it is from something less urgent.… Read more
Posted on November 19, 2019 by West Corporation
If there is a secret weapon hospitals and healthcare providers can use to improve the patient experience, it might just be patient surveys. Patient satisfaction surveys are well-known resources that providers use to gain insights into how to improve healthcare experiences. Most healthcare teams are familiar with how to use satisfaction surveys to their advantage.… Read more
Posted on September 24, 2019 by West Corporation
Two in three chronic patients (66%) say it is important to feel like they are receiving the best possible care from their healthcare provider. West surveyed 1,036 adults in the U.S. and analyzed responses from patients with a chronic condition to try to determine exactly what “the best possible care” means to these individuals.… Read more
Posted on August 6, 2019 by West Corporation
Patients who have been discharged from the hospital are more likely to return to the emergency department or be readmitted if they have high levels of pain. According to one study that looked at 30-day readmissions and ER visits following surgeries, patients in the highest reported pain categories also had the highest rate of non-planned readmissions and ER visits.… Read more
Posted on July 23, 2019 by West Corporation
Patient expectations for positive healthcare experiences continue to rise thanks to the streamlined experiences they have as consumers with other industries. Other industries prioritize convenient communication along the customer journey so that interactions are meaningful, convenient and informative. For healthcare organizations, this means that they can no longer leave all responsibility for creating positive experiences through between-visit communication with the patient.… Read more
Posted on July 16, 2019 by West Corporation
More Americans than ever—28.7 million to be precise—are expected to use smartwatches this year. Many will utilize activity tracking and health monitoring features, along with apps to count steps, track sleep and monitor their heart rate. Healthcare teams can capitalize on smartwatch adoption to help patients achieve their health goals by connecting smartwatch activity tracking to personalized care plans.… Read more
Posted on July 9, 2019 by West Corporation
When healthcare leaders put their heads together and strategize how to improve healthcare experiences for patients, much of the focus tends to be on improving clinical processes and facilities. However, one area that patients suggest needs improvement is the financial side of the patient experience. Here are three problems patients say need to be fixed in order to elevate the financial experience for patients:
Problem #1: Healthcare bills often catch patients by surprise.… Read more
Posted on July 1, 2019 by West Corporation
If knowing ideal blood pressure, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar and other health numbers are part of health management, then many patients are ill-equipped to manage their chronic diseases on their own. Too many patients do not know their current and target health metrics or what those numbers mean. The good news is that healthcare teams can easily offer support to help patients better understand where they are and where they need to be in terms of their health readings.… Read more
