IT Practice Consulting – Health IT Report – July 2016
“Digital Access Engages Patients, Reduces Costs, and Encourages Wellness”
Introduction
Advancing technologies continue to challenge how populations receive and digest information, and the world of health care is no exception. A recent study, “Patients Want a Heavy Dose of Digital,” revealed that patients are beginning to petition for interactive personal health data, with an emphasis on digital and mobile access. While previous medical information technology may have focused on limited data sharing – appointment summaries, test conclusions, etc. – current digital tools strive to offer patients the entire package of the health care experience. Fortunately, providers participating in electronic health records (EHRs) and patient portals cite numerous peripheral benefits for their practices, including cost reductions and increased preventative care. With unrestricted data-sharing on the rise, health care practitioners across the country are implementing convenient information systems to meet consumers’ growing demands for accessible medical records and reciprocal communication.
Study Shows Substantial Increase in Patient Engagement Programs
According to a recent American Hospital Association TrendWatch report, hospitals nationwide have witnessed significant developments in the scope and capabilities of patient portal programs (between 2013 and 2015). “The value of hospital adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) also extends to patients,” the introduction reads, “who now have more secure electronic access to their medical information than ever before.” The numbers certainly back this up.
An astounding 92 percent of patients had access to digital medical records in 2015, starkly contrasting the 43 percent availability two years prior. Similarly, a patient’s ability to download their health care information doubled in this period. Other consumer-targeted options saw more modest improvements; paying bills, scheduling appointments, and requesting prescription refills saw close to 20 percent increases. TrendWatch characterizes these progressions as clinicians, “prioritizing investments in health information technology” in response to growing consumer demands.
Read the American Hospital Association’s July 2016 TrendWatch report here:
Accessible Medical Records Cut Costs, Encourage Preventative Care
Patient portals and similar digital tools have enriched the health care experience by allowing consumers a sense of cooperation and transparency in their personal wellness. Moreover, these ground-breaking technologies directly benefit providers. AJMC Managed Market Networks cross-analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Survey to determine “whether advanced electronic health record (EHR) use in hospitals is associated with lower cost of providing inpatient care.” Findings from over 500 hospitals concluded that patients treated with effective EHRs cost the organization, on average, ten percent less than those in the control group. These profitable results are correlated with decreases in incorrect diagnoses, redundant testing, and extended stays.
Preventative care is also on the upswing. Interactive patient portals now offer appointment notifications, real-time physician messaging, and relevant health tips. Most notably, JMIR e-Health Research Publications reported an apparent relationship between EHR portal messages and increased rates of influenza vaccinations. With a five percent improvement over twenty thousand participants, JMIR researchers encourage practitioners, especially primary care doctors, to utilize direct messaging as an advisory tool.
Read the entire AJMC cost report here:
Association of Electronic Health Records With Cost Savings in a National Sample
Read more on increasing influenza vaccinations through patient portal messages here:
Finals Thoughts
Innovation in health information technology has pushed modern medicine past its conventional physician-patient relationship and into an era of collaborative wellness. The goal of electronic applications and portals is simple: to improve patient care and support interoperability among medical organizations. This December, initiated by the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC), over 500 medical professionals will participate in the 2016 Digital Health Conference, supporting the mission of advancing patient-accessible health care. The NYeC, a leading facilitator of federal grants and incentive programs, anticipates that the conference will “foster dynamic conversation addressing how healthcare is being redefined through technology.”
Contact IT Practice Consulting today to take full advantage of the economic and qualitative benefits of electronic health records. ITPC assists in navigating the EHR regulations, while ensuring optimal security for patient-accessible data systems.
Don’t Forget to Keep Updated on the New York eHealth Collaborative’s 2016 Digital Health Conference.