The following is a guest article by Eric Bacon, President at AMD Global Telemedicine, Inc
Access to medical care has long been considered a fundamental human right. But that right doesn’t necessarily mean everyone can obtain essential health services — or, at the very least, equitable health services. Many people across the globe still have no or limited access to healthcare, which inevitably leads to unequal health outcomes in rural, low-income, or minority communities. However, modern healthcare technology is poised to change that, helping extend essential health services into underserved areas and democratize healthcare for all.
Naturally, this begs the question; what does it mean to democratize healthcare?
Simply put, healthcare democratization entails making services more accessible to more people. Thanks to telehealth solutions, someone in a small town can now access the same services as someone living in a metropolitan area. These systems put patients at the center, with care teams working to treat the full individual through individualized and comprehensive care plans.
Though healthcare organizations are notoriously slow to adopt new technology, advances in telehealth solutions are picking up the pace. A large part of this has been out of necessity; just a few years ago, patients and physicians weathered sudden and intense demand for more ways to interact virtually with patients.
The changing healthcare landscape is moving away from transactional services and now has much to do with meeting customers where they are at and evolving with their needs and demands. Today, patients are used to and expect integrated and convenient solutions from all businesses — healthcare included. Integrating more tech into healthcare also gives patients more power, keeping them involved and in the know so they don’t feel like bystanders to their care.
For providers, leaning into healthcare democratization and integrating more telehealth solutions into their services is a game-changer. But, as we likely all know, technology isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it proposition. Providers still need to make additional efforts to promote user adoption of the technology in order for it to improve access to healthcare and sustainability.
These critical steps include:
Involve Patients in the Decision-Making Process
It’s a simple truth that patients show greater levels of satisfaction and trust when they actively participate in their healthcare decisions. They’re also more likely to understand their conditions and adhere to their treatment plans. Technology — or mHealth, more specifically — has made patient participation much easier to obtain (for both parties).
Today, everything from wearables to apps to remote monitoring systems has armed patients with greater knowledge about their health and well-being, putting them in a much better position to make informed decisions and take on a more equitable role in the doctor-patient relationship. The increased access to health-related data has also led many patients to hold their physicians more accountable for care, further increasing trust.
The healthcare world is taking big steps in the right direction, even more so when taking into account the low-cost (if not free) apps available to healthcare consumers looking to manage stress, reduce anxiety, and improve overall mental well-being. However, telehealth is more than just apps and wellness platforms, it’s access to more engaged virtual visits, and consistent follow-up appointments that result in better overall outcomes. Providers should take advantage of this shift by adding or increasing access to telehealth options in their arsenal.
Improve Patient Satisfaction Through Engagement
The democratization of healthcare through telehealth solutions does more than improve access to care. With the right technology, providers can streamline workflows and enable greater collaboration between physicians in a variety of disciplines, which goes a long way to increasing the continuity of care — something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the patient community. A COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition survey found nearly 80% of telehealth users reported satisfaction in this area.
It might seem obvious to say, but patient satisfaction is the key to patient retention. And greater continuity of care offers further benefits than improved patient satisfaction and retention rates; it also serves as a motivator to schedule follow-up appointments and use a provider for additional services, including inpatient treatments. When combined with telehealth, the likelihood of improved patient outcomes increases exponentially.
Promote Health Literacy
Telehealth is able to democratize healthcare in more ways than just the obvious. Not only does telemedicine make healthcare more accessible and empower patients, but it’s also moved patient data into the digital realm. More importantly, the increase in healthcare technology integrations shows how vendors are playing together in a more succinct way to help centralize digital records, making it much easier for physicians to share information and provide more evidence-based, value-driven care. This, in and of itself, supports more accurate diagnoses, customized treatment strategies, fewer complications, and so on, which all have the potential to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction levels. It can reduce medical costs as well.
Telehealth platforms provide patients with greater access to their own personal health information. This makes it much easier for patients to stay current on immunizations, as well as update and share their records. It also promotes improved health literacy, which can help patients better manage their health and care — with one caveat: Providers must do their part by minimizing the complexities involved in care to enable understanding.
Everyone is deserving of good health and a long life, which isn’t possible without consistent access to quality health services. Unfortunately, inequities have led to many people still being left behind in every country across the globe, including this one. Advances in telehealth solutions offer the potential to level the playing field and democratize healthcare for rural and urban areas alike. The time has come to reevaluate your offering and integrate solutions that facilitate healthcare for everyone.
About Eric Bacon
Eric Bacon is president at AMD Global Telemedicine, Inc. He has 20 years of experience designing new medical devices and telemedicine solutions that are deployed in more than 100 countries and used in millions of consults. During his time at AMD, Eric and his team have transformed and expanded the company from a provider of medical devices to a software development and technology company focused on effectuating change and impact across the healthcare industry.
