Nick Knowlton
Aug 16 2022
Reading Time: 3 minutes
By: Nick Knowlton, Vice President of Business Development, ResMed – SaaS
Even though patients and caregivers receiving home-based care have serious needs involving their wellbeing, they have the same consumer expectations as they would for any other service. In fact, the pandemic forced the need for consumer-facing technology in healthcare, allowing patients to receive care remotely, handle documentation electronically, and have real-time communication with their care teams. These innovative changes to the healthcare landscape brought significant convenience to the market, and patients and their families continue to expect this level of consumerism.
Home-based care organizations also benefit from this consumer-approach to providing care. It allows them to easily collect data, explore trends, influence strategies, and help improve patient health and outcomes.
So how can providers bridge the gap between consumerism and home-based care? Here are five actionable strategies:
1. Find best practices in other markets.
By looking across healthcare markets, you can discover ways to make a digital patient experience both valuable and easy to navigate.
2. Evaluate your business model.
Once you determine the level of investment that best suits your business to better engage your patients, you can figure out the strategy that makes the most sense for your organization.
3. Develop your approach to the patient journey.
From referral to patient care and beyond, mapping out what you want that journey to look like will help you understand where you can better engage patients.
4. Engage your technology vendors.
By engaging IT vendors, leaning on them, and exploring what has worked within your care segment, you’ll have the IT horsepower to build a digital health technology footprint.
5. Prioritize interoperability.
According to HIMSS, interoperability is the ability of different information technology systems and software applications to communicate, exchange data, and use the information that has been exchanged. Bridging the path between consumerism and care requires technology that not only seamlessly collects data, but also uses that data to exceed expectations of referring providers and better engage patients.
The consumer experience thrives in every brand and market. You can digitally track your pizza, check in for your flight via mobile app, and choose from a myriad of shopping options for quick delivery right to your door—so why should healthcare be any different?
Download our latest eBook on bridging the path between consumerism and care. And for those home-based care organizations ready to level up their consumer experience, schedule a demo today to see for yourself how CitusHealth is built to engage patients and family caregivers, create deeper connections, and exceed consumer expectations.
