The CMS considers patient engagement a quality metric for a learning healthcare system.
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Patient engagement is crucial for a learning healthcare system and cost-efficient care. Policy changes play a significant role in driving technology towards enhancing engagement. Here are three examples from the US context:
1. Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 2 and 3:
- Electronic Health Records (EHRs): MU mandated EHR adoption and incentivized features like patient portals, secure messaging, and medication management tools. These empowered patients with access to their data, enabling communication with providers and proactive engagement in their health.
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- Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD): Stage 3's focus on incorporating PGHD, including wearable data and remote monitoring, gave patients more control over their health information and allowed providers to personalize care plans based on real-time data.
2. Open Notes Initiative:
- This 2012 initiative encouraged healthcare providers to share clinical notes with patients directly through patient portals. Increased transparency facilitated informed decision-making, strengthened trust, and promoted patient involvement in treatment plans.
- Studies show the initiative improved patient understanding of their conditions, medication adherence, and satisfaction with care, contributing to better health outcomes.
3. Telehealth Policy Expansion During COVID-19:
- The pandemic prompted temporary relaxation of telehealth regulations, increasing access to care, especially for marginalized populations and those in rural areas.
- This policy change demonstrated telehealth's potential for patient engagement, including remote consultations, medication management, and chronic disease monitoring. The lessons learned paved the way for permanent advancements in telehealth policies supporting virtual care delivery.
These examples illustrate how technology policy changes can directly impact patient engagement. By promoting patient access to information, facilitating communication, and expanding care options, these policies pave the way for a more patient-centered, and potentially cost-effective, healthcare system.
Further considerations:
- Data privacy and security: Policies must ensure robust safeguards for patient data while enabling patient access and control.
- Digital equity: Addressing technology access disparities and digital literacy challenges is crucial for ensuring all patients can benefit from engagement tools.
- Interoperability and standardization: Policies promoting seamless data exchange across systems can allow for a more connected and patient-centric healthcare experience.
By recognizing the potential of information technology and making patient engagement a central focus, policymakers can shape the future of healthcare towards improved quality, lower costs, and empowered patients.