5 Essential Patient Engagement Strategies to Drive Better Outcomes - Wellbox

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June 15, 2021 | 5 Essential Patient Engagement Strategies to Drive Better Outcomes

Improving the health and lives of patients is something we all strive for in healthcare. One way this is
done is by improving patient engagement. In fact, evidence shows that when patients are actively
involved in their care experience, it can lead to better outcomes and healthier lives. As a result,
healthcare organizations employ strategies to better engage patients, but on average, healthcare
leaders and clinicians believe just 34 percent of their patients are highly engaged, according to a NEJM
Catalyst Insights Council survey.

Engaging patients in their care can be a challenging feat, but several strategies have proven to be
successful. At Wellbox, our patient engagement strategies not only deliver better care and improve the
lives of our patients but have led to an over 80 percent engagement rate for our services. Learn more
about the five essential patient engagement strategies we use to improve outcomes below.

1) Identify Patients

The first step to improving patient engagement and outcomes is to implement patient segmentation. By
breaking down patient populations into different segments, it can reveal detailed insights into this
patient group such as their risks, diagnoses, and coverage. Identifying these patients can help better
understand the population and their unique care needs, which can help determine the strategies
needed to deliver this care.

At Wellbox, we begin every service by conducting a patient population health analysis. We identify
which patients are high-risk, what conditions they have, and how their insurance will cover the services.
This way, we can find the patients who will most benefit from our solutions.

Additionally, focusing our time and resources on these patients can improve their health and overall
outcomes. Segmentation also helps our care team to better understand the patients they are assisting
and decide on the best care coordination that will support their needs.

2) Provide Education
When patients receive services, they may not always follow their medical regimens. According to the
American Journal of Medicine, approximately 50% of patients with chronic disease do not obtain clinical
benefit from treatment because of poor compliance. Lack of adherence is associated with poor clinical
outcomes, increased hospitalizations, and lower quality of life. Therefore, it’s essential to keep patients
engaged and compliant with their health management.

Patient education has demonstrated to significantly enhance compliance. It’s beneficial for patients to
understand their diagnoses and what can be done to improve their conditions. When patients trust and
understand the recommended guidelines given to them, they are more likely to see the efforts and
results as worth it.

For example, a study revealed that when patients received educational materials, 67% of them were
compliant with their treatment. They were found to be more satisfied with the treatment, increased
communication with their providers, and improved health behaviors and outcomes.

Similarly, our care team establishes clear communication with patients from the start. They answer
questions, provide education over conditions, and help patients find resources and medications
available to them. The more patients understand their care management, the more motivated they are
to follow and engage with their care. The results can be seen in our own care management program
where patients are educated with a care plan. The outcomes include:

66% decrease in hospitalizations

2-3x more flu shots and vaccinations

50% increase in preventative measures

90% satisfaction rate

3) Engage in Shared-Decision Making

An article published in the American Journal of Surgery found that when care interactions lacked shared
decision-making or the shared decision-making was not up to a specific standard, patient-reported
outcomes deteriorated.
Shared decision-making describes a process in which clinicians and patients work together to make
decisions and select tests, treatments, and care plans based on clinical evidence. An effective strategy
for engaging with patients is to make their health plans and goals with them.

According to a study with Mayo Clinic, they implemented a shared decision-making program with their
patients and saw hospital admissions reduce by 19 percent. The researchers credited this decision tool
for providing better care to the individual patients and improving their clinical outcomes.

Patients are more motivated to participate in a treatment they helped decide on. Planning and
communication need to not only come from their care team but the patients’ own input and
collaboration. That’s why it’s important for care teams to educate patients and help them make
informed decisions, and as a result, increase their engagement with their health regimen.

4) Deliver Continuous Care

For our team, we believe every interaction counts. Engaging with patients does not only happen once or
a few times a year. This is because delivering continuous care is essential to improving the health and
lives of patients.

Wellbox contacts patients every month to provide care, encourage patients in their health journey, and
offer accountability about their health goals when needed. We find that treating every consistent
interaction as important makes the patients feel more satisfied and cared for. They receive a positive
healthcare experience and are more likely to adhere to their care plans.

It’s not only our services making a difference. Research has shown that continuity of care is associated
with patient satisfaction, decreased hospital visits, and increased preventative care measures. This is
especially impactful for high-risk patients such as those living with chronic conditions. For example, a
study found that continuous care delivered to diabetic patients significantly reduced health
complications and medical costs.

5) Minimize Barriers to Care

One of the biggest challenges to improving patients’ health is when they lack access to care. People who
live in rural areas, lack access to high quality food, or social interactions are facing risk factors. In fact, 14
percent of chronically ill patients say they do not get the care they need to manage their conditions.
Barriers continuously limit and prevent people from receiving adequate access to care.

Virtual care can help make healthcare accessible. Solutions like Care Management and Remote Patient
Monitoring (RPM) bridge the gap in care by offering the opportunity to effectively engage with patients
who may have not traditionally had access or participation with healthcare services. Remote access can
also help preserve the patient-care team relationship at times when an in-person visit is not practical or
feasible.

These virtual solutions can help patients who live in healthcare shortages have access to a care team,
personalized care plans, and support throughout their wellness journey with consistent, meaningful
interactions.

They can also offer access to technology. Employing patient engagement strategies alongside technology
can ensure success in patient participation and improvement. This is because of its ability to report
patient data in real-time, which can lead to better outcomes for healthcare organizations and patients
alike.

If leveraging turnkey virtual care solutions sounds like something that could work well for your practice
and patients, our team can help. Contact us today to get started.

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