Is 2012 The Year Of Online Patients?

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Lisa Henderson,
User Rank: Apprentice
2/2/2012 | 2:03:26 AM

re: Is 2012 The Year Of Online Patients?

Gil, I completely agree with all of your statements. It's kind of ironic in a way that people used to completely trust their doctor with their care, although it is difficult for physicians to speak to patients in a way that they understand their condition. Now consumers get more information about health from the Internet, but they don't understand it and take it to the doctor for interpretation.

As just an example, In informed consent for clinical trials, the average reading level is 11.1 grade, while the average American reading level is grade 8.

But the point is that Health Literacy and education would be helpful for the whole population; doctors that can speak at an average level; information that is explained to the average American would all go toward the online patient engagement.

Lisa Henderson, InformationWeek Healthcare, contributing editor

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Gil Tidhar,
User Rank: Apprentice
1/24/2012 | 6:13:36 AM

re: Is 2012 The Year Of Online Patients?

The problem identified is with consumer motivation. ItG��s not surprising, however, that consumers would not be interested in providing health information without the ability to also participate in decisions that influence their health.

This is no different to other areas of our life. For example, online banking would not be as popular if all one could do is check their account balance without being able to take action - transfer money, pay bills, invest, etc. Viewing products without the ability to actually make a purchase would make online shopping less attractive to consumers.

Therefore, it is important that (1) consumers are given the opportunity to access their (online) information and participate in decisions regarding their care; (2) consumers are provided with education to improve Health Literacy - making them better healthcare consumers (without making them doctors); and (3) education and regulation is used to encourage healthcare providers to include consumers in a collaborative care process.

Maybe collaborative care will further motivate online patient engagement.

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Lisa Henderson,
User Rank: Apprentice
1/13/2012 | 12:58:52 AM

re: Is 2012 The Year Of Online Patients?

Patient engagement in any area is a test in psychological behavior. Physicians are being driven by force, and vendors through incentives to develop and or use EHRs, but the ultimate user, the patient has no such incentive.

Fear of the Internet, fear of information being used for wrong purposes, the difficulty for many to use the software or web sites or just the tedium of staying on top of yet another technology in their life. Google Health noticed it is difficult to keep patients engaged between episodes of care. That would seem normal, unless you have a chronic condition.

The above example, with a targeted disease, is a great start. But blanketing the population, maybe more difficult.

Lisa Henderson, InformationWeek Healthcare, contributing editor

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bcas,
User Rank: Apprentice
1/12/2012 | 7:38:16 PM

re: Is 2012 The Year Of Online Patients?

With the HITECH incentives peaking in 2012 I expect it to be a big year for implementing solutions, however the Meaningful Use patient engagement objectives really ramp up in Stage 2 and 3, so it may be a couple of years before we see wide spread adoption and use, but it's a step in the right direction.

I also agree wholeheartedly with with Missy Krasner's statement about patient engagement tools having more credibility when connected to and coming from the provider. A good example of this is Navigating Cancer, a patient portal for oncology practices that provides patient engagement tools and resources under the clinic's brand.

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