Digital tools have the potential to make healthcare more preventive, personalized and participatory, as long as providers can evolve toward a more consumer-centric model as well.
Here, according to a new report from the American Hospital Association's Center for Health Innovation and EY, are three shifts providers will need to make as part of an ongoing digital transformation in order to achieve this vision of participatory health: a future grounded in patient engagement, with a focus on overall wellness, near-constant access to care and digital connections.
1. Convenient care anywhere, anytime: With convenience a core pillar of participatory health, virtual care will only continue to grow in popularity. Providers must not only expand telemedicine and sensor-based care options, but also serve as a "data-driven conductor" to help patients use a variety of digital tools and services to manage their holistic well-being.
2. Moving from digital to smart: Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence algorithms are crucial for achieving seamless and connected care. These "smart" systems will manage patient and other clinical data to improve both patient and clinician experience by streamlining care delivery and predicting issues before they arise.
3. Manage social determinants, not just clinical care: Providers can play a vital role in using clinical data to address factors well outside the clinic that impact health. Partnerships with community organizations will improve providers' abilities to leverage clinical resources to develop population health management solutions.