It's easy to see why healthcare providers may be hesitant to pursue additional technology solutions: previous investments may not have helped care teams deliver care as expected.
Providers may be unable to access and use information stored in EMRs and patient portals effectively, and they may be struggling to assess how new technologies can support a shift to value-based care this year.
But a new category of tools that support value-based transitions share a commonality: they integrate with platforms already in place, which makes them affordable—and effective—options:
Analytics. Providers need to be able to make sense of internal data to improve patient outcomes. When they are able to use this information meaningfully, they can gain insight into population trends, forecast and refocus practice operations to better execute care. With effective crowdsourcing, they can proactively treat conditions affecting a population and lower admission rates, which decreases readmission costs.
When providers are able to see trends, like high incidence of ER use, they are also able to approach patients with less costly, targeted options. Outbreaks of viruses are easier to track and treat as well.
For providers to realize these benefits, however, analytics need to be integrated into existing technology platforms and third parties, including payors and EMRs, to produce insights and give providers the ability to analyze financial trends.
Telemedicine. Patients feel more connected to physicians and are more likely to understand disease treatment when telemedicine is part of care delivery; the process helps physicians gather information and communicate via wireless devices and patient portals.
Telemedicine platforms have been integrated into the operations of various providers, including hospitals, specialist practices and home health agencies. But these platforms provide greater value when integrated into technology platforms used by care teams, particularly EMRs. Here, too, the result is centralized information, the ability to coordinate and engage patients more effectively and reduce redundancies to improve outcomes.
Healthcare facilities can increase patient engagement rates and response time using telemedicine, and it may even support additional revenue streams focused around chronic disease.
Care Management Platform. These platforms can integrate with patient portals, EMRs and other disparate systems to centralize information. Because the entire care team works within the same care management platform, it is able to share information, understand the direction for treatment and monitor patient progress.
Care management systems provide a comprehensive view of a patient, because they combine care coordination, patient engagement, clinician and analytics data. Like a content management system (CMS), they provide visibility into care team activity and serve as a means to organize and execute patient plans. Patient data is actionable for clinicians and workflow is more cost and time efficient—especially when treatment involves multiple stages.
Miscommunication and costly mistakes can be avoided using a care management platform. For example, if a patient is battling an infection prior to a scheduled surgery, his surgeon and physician would be able to see patient status in the system and reschedule the procedure, specialists and equipment accordingly.
But where care management platforms really shine is in scenarios involving treatment for complex, chronic conditions, like diabetes and cancer. Physicians are better able to track patient progress, engage the care team, spot and address gaps in care. While the conditions may be complex, care teams experience simplicity executing treatment using a care management system, because they can access relevant information and understand how to best use it for patients.
We've made great inroads exploring how technology can support healthcare processes. In 2016 and beyond, the industry should be focused on integration to connect the pieces and move forward in a more holistic way.
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