Introduction
The electronic health record is a digital register of a patient’s health information that is gathered from the experiences at a particular care delivery center. The demographics of the patient, past medical history, immunization, and radiography reports are some of the crucial information elements that are contained in the electronic health records. Currently, information technology has become vital in all sectors of the economy, especially the public health (Schumaker & Reganti, 2014). This paper discusses the factors that promote successful patient engagement. It will review and evaluate the methods of customer commitment and population health initiatives with an aim to respond to the Triple Aim Initiative.
Factors Promoting Successful Patient Engagement
Several methods are available to guarantee the sustainability of the health system through promoting patient engagement and the delivery of the appropriate care where patients are allowed to make preferences and attitudes towards the decision-making process (Bernabeo & Holmboe, 2013). Clinicians should involve the patients in the selection of treatment, tests, and support packages.
In the direct health care, organizations ensure engagement of patients by allowing them to have access to the electronic health records. The experiences of the patients are enhanced through transparency in the care management. The use of health coaches is appropriate for supporting the patients over the phone or through online platforms. Additionally, creating personalized health care plans to assist patients to manage long-term conditions and improving the quality of service is essential in promoting patient engagement (Prey et al., 2014).
Methods of Patient Engagement
Patients can be engaged at an individual level or as a group. Surveys conducted on the patients’ experiences will give responses that inform the efforts of the organization. Most service providers will understand the communication mode preferred by the patients through surveys. Information concerning access to medical records, appointments, and patient reminders is availed through surveys (Bernabeo & Holmboe, 2013). This method is useful in terms of increasing patient engagement. Other methods that facilitate patient engagement include the use of family advisors and the inclusion of patients and households in the cause analysis process.
Population Health Initiatives
Most of the health initiatives focus on strategies for preventing diseases that affect the majority of the population. The initiatives provide educational awareness, support, access to appropriate healthcare options, and advocacy. Contemporary population health initiatives are embracing the incorporation of information technology to enhance patients’ care (Koh, Brach, Harris, & Parchman, 2013). Health care initiatives are the most preferred methods of ensuring a vibrant patient engagement.
Response to the Triple Aim Initiative
Following the stipulations of the international healthcare institute, it is evident that improving the health system in the United States is dependent on the attainment of real encounters by the patients and improving the health of population while reducing cost (Schumaker & Reganti, 2014). To ensure that service delivery is patient-centered, adopting learning systems and designing of services that respond to clients’ needs has been incorporated in the national strategy. Patients can enroll in programs that enable them to acquire healthcare services, thus creating transformation in the health sector. By embracing technology, the international health institute encourages participants in healthcare to involve families and individuals in formulating care models, enhancing disease prevention, and promoting health (Bernabeo & Holmboe, 2013).
Conclusion
The electronic health record is essential in the current healthcare division. Establishing personalized care plans in accordance with the appropriate care to patients while allowing them to access the electronic health record is a recommendable means of promoting engagement. The use of surveys, family advisors, and population health initiatives has helped in terms of engaging patients. The Triple Aim concept seeks to guarantee improvement of the patients’ experiences, enhance population health, and/or reduce the cost of health care.
Reference List
Bernabeo, E., & Holmboe, E. (2013). Patients’ Engagement: The Authors Reply. Health Affairs, 32(7), 1335-1335.
Koh, H., Brach, C., Harris, M., & Parchman, M. (2013). A proposed ‘health literate care model’ would constitute a systems approach to improving patients’ engagement in care. Health Affairs, 32(2), 357-367.
Prey, J., Woollen, J., Wilcox, L., Sackeim, A., Hripcsak, G., Bakken, S., & Vawdrey, D. K. (2014). Patient engagement in the inpatient setting: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 21(4), 742-750.
Schumaker, R., & Reganti, K. (2014). Implementation of Electronic Health Record (EHR) System in the Healthcare Industry. International Journal of Privacy and Health Information Management (IJPHIM), 2(2), 57-71.