Patient Engagement: Driving Innovation in Digital Health

“Patient Engagement” is currently a buzzword in the healthcare industry. VCBeat has previously reported on numerous companies leveraging “Patient Engagement” as their entry point into internet healthcare, along with many related analytical articles (Click here for details). So, what exactly is “Patient Engagement”? What does it encompass? And what are its benefits?

What Is Patient Engagement?

“Patient Engagement” is generally translated as “patient participation” or “patient motivation.” Currently, the healthcare industry increasingly uses the term “Patient Engagement” to refer to any process by which patients conduct inquiries and communicate through various patient portals.

However, the true definition of “Patient Engagement” is clearly not limited to the patient communication we commonly see; in other words, “Patient Engagement” does not simply refer to patients using tools to search for information related to their conditions or communicating using such information.

“The complete definition of ‘Patient Engagement’ should be:”

1. The patient has sufficient knowledge, capability, and willingness to participate in their own health management and disease treatment process;

2. Healthcare institutions have a cultural norm of valuing and supporting patient engagement in the medical process;

3. Patients actively collaborate with healthcare providers to co-design treatment plans, manage the treatment process, and ultimately achieve favorable therapeutic outcomes.

Currently, a growing number of real-world cases demonstrate that collaborative involvement of patients and physicians in the healthcare process yields better clinical outcomes. Furthermore, healthcare institutions that prioritize “Patient Engagement” have significantly improved operational efficiency and patient satisfaction.

By employing a range of appropriate communication methods and services, both patients and physicians can derive numerous benefits from “Patient Engagement.” In addition to the willingness and ability of patients and healthcare providers to collaborate, online patient communication platforms serve as an essential tool for advancing “Patient Engagement.” A recent survey by the Pew Research Center indicates that the majority of American adults utilize various tools to participate in the management of their health and medical care.

• 63% of adults use their mobile phones to access the internet, a figure three times higher than that in 2009. Furthermore, among those who use mobile phones to go online, 36% indicated that their mobile phone is their primary device for internet access. This means that 21% of adults primarily use mobile phones, rather than laptops or tablets, to access the internet.

• 69% of adults track their health data, such as weight, diet, and daily exercise. Among them, half only have a general impression of these data, one-third record the data in notebooks, and one-fifth use related devices to closely monitor their health metrics.

• 35% of American adults search online for symptoms of potential diseases, and half of them subsequently seek professional medical examinations at hospitals.

The Importance and Purpose of “Patient Engagement”

The healthcare industry is currently undergoing profound transformation, making the importance of “Patient Engagement” evident in the following three key aspects:

1. “Patient Engagement” is an essential prerequisite for healthcare to achieve the triple aim of “better outcomes, enhanced experience, and lower costs.” In fact, substantial evidence has demonstrated that patients who actively participate in their own care processes can achieve favorable treatment outcomes while simultaneously reducing treatment costs. A survey found that when patients have access to their health information, they are more willing to engage in their medical care, particularly among low-income populations.

2. “Patient Engagement” is critical to meeting new healthcare quality standards. “Patient Engagement” is a key objective of many healthcare reform initiatives, including the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model.

3. “Patient Engagement” can improve healthcare efficiency, reduce costs, and encourage greater patient involvement in medical practice. Many patients hope to access their electronic health records and welcome convenient online payment and appointment scheduling services. As healthcare costs continue to rise, patients will demand more convenient, efficient, and multi-dimensional ways to engage in their care.

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