Engage!

Educating patients while they are in the hospital is a challenge for busy nursing teams even in the best of times. And in the happiest of situations, like teaching a new mother about breastfeeding and infant care, for instance.

The best way to get patients back in the door is to send happy patients out the door. Improving the patient education experience is key.

Hospitals and nurses have long known that patients who are well educated about their health and treatment are likely to follow their care plan. With increased communication channels, patients are more likely to report better patient satisfaction, both of which positively impact health outcomes and hospital reimbursement.

Hospitals are under constant pressure to improve patient outcomes for many reasons. Among them, healthcare consumerism is creating a market for better-informed patients. Health outcomes and low readmission rates are two criteria patients use to choose a hospital. 

Hospital smart rooms are disrupting traditional patient room designs.  They also are transforming the traditional patient experience. 

Pick up any newspaper, turn on any TV or open any news web site and it is clear that healthcare accessibility and costs are top of mind concerns for American consumers. In the latest Politico poll, about 80% of respondents – in both parties – said lowering healthcare costs was “extremely” or “very” important. 

“Allen E3 digital messages were the fastest, most targeted and easiest way
to communicate flu visitation restrictions.”

Coronavirus is filling the headlines this month, but at the same time, influenza continues to be a serious health concern across the US. The CDC says that influenza has sickened at least 13 million Americans this season – and flu season hasn’t peaked yet.  As they have during previous flu epidemics, many hospitals in hard-hit regions are implementing temporary visitor restrictions to help control the spread of flu and other infectious diseases. But making sure that the ever-changing flow of visitors, patients and staff is aware of those restrictions can be a major communications and management challenge.

It has been a decade since President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act – March 23, 2010 – shifting healthcare delivery into the value-based delivery model. Now, as we enter a new decade, hospitals also are entering a new era of patient engagement. What can we expect next when it comes to improving the hospital experience? Here’s what we see ahead.

Nowadays, the term ‘healthcare innovation’ is becoming almost cliché. Everyone, it seems, is on the bandwagon to be known as an innovator, a disrupter. New companies and technologies are coming online faster than hospital management teams can adequately vet them.

Seven years ago, Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York, came to Allen Technologies with a challenge not uncommon to most hospitals. The 245-bed Northwell Health facility wanted to empower and engage its patients in their treatment. It was looking for innovative ideas – and sought a technology partner with the creative chops and an innovation track record to achieve it.