Can’t do it in real life? Let’s go with Online Patient Engagement

Donald Berwick, administrator of Centers of Medicare and Medicaid, predicted patient engagement to be one of the top concerns in 2011. Healthcare IT companies and EHR vendors are modifying existing products and introducing new products for online patient engagement. Patients are seeking such a system where they can have instant access to their medical records and history.  

According to recent surveys, most of the patients are seeking providers and practices that provide online access to patient data. The 2012 survey conducted by HealthLeaders Media demonstrated that only one in five practices is providing patients with advanced online patient portals with basic features.

Now patients are expecting quite more. They are losing patience with practices and providers who fail to deliver their expectations. 

The practices need to carve out a strategy to engage patients online. Using social media to enhance patient’s online experience is also a good idea. Healthcare companies should also appoint such innovative applications where patients can update their information and providers can respond them promptly and easily. This is an opportunity as well as challenge for Healthcare IT companies to do something about online patient engagement and to keep the patients and practices happy.

Centers of Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)