While patient engagement is steering much of the conversations surrounding healthcare delivery, providers largely see patient engagement simply as a checklist item on the list of meaningful use requirements.
A study conducted by HIMSS Analytics and sponsored by InterSystems found 60 percent of executives from 114 healthcare organizations approach patient engagement to meet meaningful use requirements. The top drivers of patient engagement include enhancing and improving the health of the community (77 percent) and the desire to build brand loyalty among patients (77 percent).
"Even if organizations have a vision for real patient engagement, many are consumed with checking the boxes for meaningful use," said Joe DeSantis, vice president of HealthShare Platforms at Intersystems, in a news release. "Unfortunately, a patient portal based on a single EHR is not enough to move patient engagement forward. Engagement needs to span the entire care continuum."
IT leaders are largely turning to patient portals as their main pipeline for patient engagement. Of those respondents with a patient engagement strategy, 71 percent reported using portals to meet the minimum meaningful use requirements for functionality and data sharing from a single source, and 51 percent use portals as an interoperable information exchange platform using data from multiple sources.
Hospital executives are also seeking new portals to offer different functionalities to let patients be more closely involved in their health. Eighty percent of leaders seek the ability for e-visits or e-consultations, 70 percent seek interoperable portals, 70 percent seek health evaluation and coaching, and 50 percent seek telemedicine capabilities.
"Game-changing patient engagement will give patients timely, comprehensive information enabling them to partner with their care providers — and to truly manage their health," Mr. DeSantis said in the release.
More articles on patient engagement:
Cedars-Sinai Health System selects HealthLoop as patient engagement tool
Aligning your workforce strategy with patient outcomes
Poor, minority patients access patient portals less frequently