We’re all in this together. The health of individuals is one thing to consider, while the health of an entire population is an entirely different matter and one that medical organizations must always keep in mind when examining and treating patients one at a time.

The following excerpt is from an article found on Harvard Business Review. It was written by William B. Weeks, MD and James N. Weinstein, DO. ------------------------------------------------- In health care, value accrues to patients, insurers, and society at large. We believe that patients’ perceptions of value are what really matter and that insurers and society derive more value when patients are served well.

How much time, energy and money is your medical organization devoting toward boosting patient engagement? If you’re not sure of how much you’re expending, you won’t be able to figure out if you are getting the best return on your investment.

The following excerpt is from an article found on EHR Intelligence. It was written by Sara Heath. ----------------------------- When it comes to patient engagement, efforts must go beyond checking boxes. Patient engagement is increasing in importance in the healthcare industry, with several initiatives requiring patient access to health information and other patient engagement functionalities such meaningful use and accountable care organizations. However, creating a genuine connection with a patient and then getting him to engage with his care outside of the doctor’s office can often present quite a challenge.

Many physicians and clinicians initially embraced patient portals primarily as a means to establish asynchronous communication in a secure environment and encourage patient registration volume as required by MU Stage 2. This allowed staff members to engage in vital conversations with consumer-patients without lengthy telephone calls, enabling more efficient resource allocation and eliminating many time-consuming telephone calls.

Wouldn’t you like to know as much as possible about what is happening in your medical practice? While you can’t have eyes and ears on everything at all times, you can find out details about the practice simply by asking. Each patient who comes for service is a potential critic who can provide invaluable feedback.

The key to maintaining good relations with your patients is to increase engagement, making them feel listened to and empowering them with access to information that will help them maintain their health. Many medical organizations with an eye toward boosting engagement will implement a patient portal with their electronic health records or EHR software. Read on to learn more about the patient engagement elements that your patients really want and how a portal will benefit your facility.

The following excerpt is from an article found on Revcycleintelligence.com. It was writtern by Jacqueline DiChiara. ----------------------- In order to stay above water, healthcare providers must develop tactics to adequately manage risk, maintain strong ROI levels, and assess weaknesses. Value over volume is the name of the revenue cycle game, with the reimbursement concept of “less is more” taking precedence. With the transition to value-based care underway, here are some top collected strategies for healthcare providers to consider.

With the shift away from a "fee-for-service" framework toward a more consumer-centric "value-based" healthcare delivery model, physicians have had to take a proactive approach to marketing their practice similar to the way retailers and consumer goods entities attract and retain clients. While designing effective marketing campaigns may not be the major focus for most healthcare providers, it should be a priority. In this new environment, strengthening engagement strategies is imperative for financial stability.

For more than two millennia, doctors have striven to uphold that physicians’ oath. While it is almost inconceivable that physicians practicing their art twenty-five hundred years ago could have foreseen the transformative effects that modern technology would have on healthcare delivery, this ancient document addressed the need to view treatment through a patient-centered lens. While the earliest writings have been modified and translated innumerable times, the excerpt below from a modern version demonstrates the original diktat to treat the patient and not the condition.