In an age where patients are beyond frustrated with the healthcare system and big names like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon are launching healthcare ventures, practices are facing a big question.
How can they compete in this rapidly changing industry?
One word: Personalization.
Yes, these companies may have all the money and tech – but they can’t humanize the care experience. Holding the hand of a person diagnosed with cancer or creating a care plan for a patient with multiple chronic diseases can only be offered through a real one-on-one connection.
From tailored treatment plans to individualized patient feedback forums, personalization can make all the difference in providing higher-quality care and better health outcomes.
We explore the reasons behind this humanized approach and its benefits and discuss how providers can leverage specific practices, strategies, and tools to personalize the patient experience.
Why the Shift Towards Humanizing Healthcare?
From Netflix customizing our shows to home delivery services providing specialized meals, personalization is front and center in every industry—including healthcare.
Why? According to a Harris Poll, 73% of Americans say the US healthcare system is failing them. Time states patients are tired of:
- The traditional fee-for-service system, in which they receive healthcare from multiple specialists who focus on a specific health issue rather than their long-term needs.
- Waiting a long time only to get a short visit with their provider (delay of care).
- Confusing medical bills.
- Poor customer service.
These issues exhaust patients. They want their care to be a personalized experience between them and their providers. This is why practices must remain competitive, especially regarding patient-centered care.
Putting the Patient First
What is a patient-centered care plan, and what does it look like? This care customizes prevention and treatment to suit a patient’s needs. It blends many ingredients, such as genetic makeup, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
The result is a holistic approach that targets current patient issues and anticipates health risks down the line. Plans often include:
- An evaluation of the patient’s present state of wellness, possible risk factors, and personal objectives for their well-being.
- Integrated care across providers, health systems, and care settings.
- Managing complex and chronic conditions.
- Success is measured by patient-reported outcomes.
Patient-centered plans also include advanced technological tools like genetic testing, integrated electronic health records (EHRs), and AI-powered analytics. This tech plays a crucial role in devising a strategy tailored to a patient’s specific needs.
These solutions also allow for the gathering and analysis of large amounts of data, enabling providers to understand patients more deeply.
Perks of Personalized Care
Personalized healthcare delivers a wide range of benefits, including managing chronic illnesses more successfully and enabling earlier detection of diseases. Other advantages include:
Healthier Outcomes
One of the most compelling reasons for personalization in healthcare? Its ability to bolster patient outcomes. When treatments are tailored to an individual’s genetic profile and lifestyle, they’re more likely to actually work. This reduces the risk of adverse events and increases the chances of a better recovery.
Personalizing experiences can also create sustained behavioral change. When patients stick to healthier choices it increases their quality of life.
Happier Patients and Better Communication
Sixty-four percent of patients wish practitioners took more time to understand them. Personalized care plans foster a sense of agency and engagement among patients. When they feel their providers understand them, they are more likely to:
- Stick to treatment plans
- Communicate with providers
- Take part in their health management
Higher Cost Savings for All
Projections indicate that by 2030, more than 80 million people in the US will have at least three chronic diseases. However, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure—and potential savings for you and your patients.
And while the initial investment in personalized preventative healthcare technologies may be high, the long-term benefits outweigh the costs. By reducing trial-and-error treatments, lowering chronic disease risk, and minimizing hospital readmissions, tailored healthcare can lead to cost savings for both providers and patients:
- According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), obesity reduction services and prevention programs could lower premiums by 0.05 to 0.1 %.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that every dollar invested in immunizations saves $52 in direct medical costs.
Reshaping the Patient Experience in Your Practice
If you want to adopt a patient-centered care approach, you need a holistic plan. Here are three key strategies you can use in your practice:
1. Adopt advanced digital technology
A report revealed future predictions on what patients seek from their healthcare providers. One finding that stood out:
“Patients want to avoid managing a portfolio of disparate apps and logins for access to different healthcare services. They want a one-stop shop for all their needs.”
Healthcare providers must adopt integrated front-end technologies to simplify patients’ care experiences. For example, EHRs like DrChrono offer an integrated EMR, patient engagement, and billing in one platform, whether providers are on their iPhone, iPad, or web. The integrated software allows providers to streamline workflows, such as sending patients custom text reminders before appointments.
Patients can then confirm via phone or email. The platform also allows customized medical charting, which providers can create on their iPad or desktop. Features include tools like free-draw, where you can take a photo from your EHR and annotate directly on it, and medical-speech-to-text for adaptive dictated note-taking. This advanced integrated tech streamlines and personalizes the patient experience.
2. Be proactive with your patients
Lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can make all the difference in improving health. Personalized nutrition plans and wellness programs consider individuals’ specific needs, helping them achieve their goals.
For example, DNA-based diet plans help patients make informed decisions about their dietary choices. Programs like these and others are built around a patient’s unique set of risk factors to improve the early detection of disease.
3. Tailor treatment and outreach programs
The healthcare industry now embraces value-based models, where the value of services is measured by patient health outcomes. Patients who are better managed through customized treatment plans and comprehensive visits typically experience better results.
Providers who adopt these tailored plans consider a patient’s medical history and personal preferences, ensuring that the interventions are effective and well-tolerated. This leads to the development of precision medicine.
Personalized outreach initiatives also bridge the gaps between patient and provider, improving communication and patient outcomes. These programs typically include:
- Examining data to pinpoint those who could gain from specific preventive actions or medical screenings.
- Sending tailored emails and notifications rather than one-size-fits-all messages. For example, the communications platform Updox has a Broadcast Messaging feature that providers can use to quickly reach patients and keep them up to date on the latest news and services from a practice. Send messages to patients at once or segment groups based on demographics or diagnoses.
- Distributing timely patient reminders about annual examinations for those with certain chronic conditions.
What’s Next?
Personalization is not just a trend; it’s a paradigm shift in healthcare that promises to deliver more effective, patient-centered care. By leveraging tech advancements and focusing on each patient’s unique needs, providers can improve outcomes, enhance patient communication, and keep patients’ trust.