Six ways to keep patients out of your hospital

Population health trends to promote wellness

Population health is all about quality over quantity. The shift from fee-for-service to value-based reimbursement is transitioning how hospitals and health systems manage their patients’ health. With a push toward patient-centered care and prevention, organizations can invest in technology and other initiatives to provide a better patient experience. Here are six trends your organization should probably consider if it hasn’t already:

Wearables

Wearables have doubled in popularity since 2014, according to a study conducted by Accenture Consulting. Over the past two years, the percentage of Americans using this technology has jumped from 9% to 21%.  And there are more care consumers willing to invest in wearables today. That same study found that when recommended by a doctor, three in four patients will invest in this technology. The beauty of wearables is their ability to help patients stay on top of their fitness goals. In turn, this will store insightful data doctors can access. Physicians monitoring this data can assess the status of their patient’s health at any time and potentially limit face-to-face checkups.

Health and wellness centers

Offering public memberships to hospital-owned health and wellness centers provides them with the proper tools to manage their health. Plus, health and wellness centers supply something retail gyms cannot — knowledgeable healthcare providers. According to an article in Healthcare Finance, wellness facilities are becoming the new “front door to health systems,” and they can deliver a return on investment.

Cancer screenings

Hospitals and health systems can provide free cancer screenings for patients around National Health Observances such as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month or Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Humanize your practice by acknowledging the importance of taking preventive measures against deadly diseases. Lift the financial burden of the screenings and give people an incentive to be proactive about their health. Additionally, if an illness is detected earlier on, it’s likely that patient will seek treatment at your facility.

Health Apps

According to an article in Modern Healthcare, 46% of healthcare professionals intend to incorporate health apps into their practice within the next five years. There are many advantages to using apps, such as constant engagement with patients and an improved patient-doctor relationship. And medical apps are a growing industry —  it is just a matter of finding the right one for your practice. According to the same Accenture study, the most popular health apps involve fitness, diet & nutrition and symptom navigators.

Recipe guides

Pinterest is like a mecca for recipes seekers, and people are constantly flocking to it for ideas. To engage consumers, your nutritionists can come up with a weekly recipe or two that emphasizes good health such as heart healthy meals, foods that boost metabolisms, or foods to eat after a high-intensity workout. Start a Pinterest board and then host a luncheon for your patients. That might just put your health system on the map for quality, patient-centered care.

Education

Hospitals are packed with professionals bursting with knowledge. Why not hold seminars or classes on population health topics such as obesity, teen pregnancy, and smoking? Education is the first step to prevention, and this an excellent way to spread the word.

Population health is gaining greater momentum every day. Healthcare marketings can leverage these insights to adapt to the evolving healthcare landscape and provide an overall better experience for your patients.