If patient engagement were a drug, would it be the blockbuster drug of the century? Would it be considered malpractice to not use it?
Most hospital and health system executives say yes, according to a recent poll of approximately 30 high-level executives and physician leaders who attended a focus group at the Becker's Hospital Review 6th Annual Meeting. The leaders represented a range of healthcare organizations, from county-owned health systems in major cities to community hospitals in rural America.
The definition of "engaged" varies from hospital to hospital. After all, zip codes are more powerful determinants of health than genetic codes. The ease with which healthcare providers can engage patients is largely dependent on who those patients are, where they live, how much they earn and even what kind of cell phone plans they have. These characteristics vary wildly from market to market, even block to block.
Even though their organizations are in distinct markets with different bed counts and balance sheets, the leaders expressed unwavering support for healthcare that is accessible and comprehensible to patients. They also agreed on one more thing: Patient engagement is easier said than done.
To read six of the key takeaways from the discussion that followed, read the recap from Paul Merrild, senior vice president of enterprise solutions for athenahealth. His piece, "Patient engagement: Results from a focus group," can be found here.