Auburn, CA and Little Rock, AR / PRWeb / October 23, 2013 – A recent study focusing on health information technology (HIT) trends for health care professionals showcases how HIT systems are influencing provider strategies to engage patients and promote better clinical outcomes. This is one of several findings in a new Trend Report published by sponsors of the 2012 Health IT Survey: TCS Healthcare Technologies (TCS), the Case Management Society of America (CMSA), and the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians (ABQAURP).
The newest release in a nine-part series, Trend Report #5: Patient Engagement Strategies, reveals how HIT is strengthening provider-patient communications to enhance patient engagement levels. For the first time in the Health IT Survey series, the most recent study asked respondents about their use of new technology to aid with patient monitoring, including patient medication and treatment adherence. To view the report, click here.
“Knowing what types of technology patients currently use, coupled with a firm grasp of the direction IT trends are headed, is invaluable information for care managers and other health care professionals as they fine tune their outreach strategies to keep patients engaged,” says Rob Pock, founder and president, TCS Healthcare Technologies.
The Trend Report identifies some interesting communication and technology trends since the 2010 and 2012 surveys asked participants many of the same patient engagement questions. The study also looks at key sub-verticals in the care management space, which further showcases different trends in how the U.S. health care delivery system works with patients.
The majority of 2012 survey respondents report that most of their clients/patients rely on advice from: primary care physicians (86%), specialist physicians (70%), care managers (69%) and family or friends (59%). These findings are similar to the 2010 survey results, but with a slight uptick in all categories.
“While traditional communication methods such as phone and face-to-face advice from physicians and care managers still dominate the field, the use of new HIT applications and solutions including smartphones, social networking and text messaging is quickly increasing,” notes Cheri Lattimer, RN, BSN, CMSA executive director. “The acceptance of email communication is a perfect example of how care managers can adopt new technologies that patients are comfortable with, and focus their efforts directly on patient guidance and engagement. This shift is also indicative of where we need to more diligently address issues and barriers associated with mobile applications, HIPPA restraints, as well as enhance financial and performance alignment to support advancing technology innovations.”
For the first time in the HIT Survey series, respondents were asked about the use of new technology to aid with patient monitoring, including patient medication and treatment adherence. While a majority of respondents report still using the telephone to monitor patients, remote monitoring solutions appear to be gaining traction. For example, one in four respondents report using heart rate/blood pressure monitoring devices, and one in five respondents report using lifestyle monitoring devices such as pedometers or meal trackers along with medication reminder IT solutions.
This is the third time TCS, CMSA and ABQAURP have joined forces to sponsor the bi-annual survey, with the first survey conducted in 2008. By comparing data from all three surveys – 2012, 2010 and 2008 – the series of 2013 Trend Reports reveals several emerging patterns in health IT use and perception.
“In an increasingly mobile and technology-driven society,” says Joel V. Brill, MD, “providers and their patients now have the ability to utilize tools that were previously unavailable or underutilized in order to open a two-way line of communication with their patients, thereby creating a deeper level of engagement that allows patients to become more meaningfully involved in their own care.” Dr. Brill is a member of the Board of Directors of ABQAURP and medical director of FAIR Health.
“This Health IT series has been designed and supervised by a panel of leading experts in the field,” says Garry Carneal, JD, MA, who has supervised the research project since 2008. “What makes this study so helpful is the tracking and reporting of key health IT trends over a period of time. This information should empower clinicians and others to make more informed decisions about how to adopt and implement new IT solutions in health care.”
Trend Report #1: Introduction & Methodology Overview provides a background on the survey methodology, participants and sampling technique. All of the published Trend Reports can be viewed or downloaded on a complementary basis at www.tcshealthcare.com in the News section, or by visiting www.cmsa.org.
Trend Reports #6-9 will be published over the next several months. Those interested in receiving copies of the remaining reports as they become available can sign up in the Trend Reports section of www.tcshealthcare.com under the News tab. The TCS website also contains other valuable resources and information, including links to the webinar series showcasing the results of the survey.
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About the Co-Sponsors
TCS Healthcare Technologies (TCS) is a leading provider of software and clinical solutions that support and improve population health management strategies for health plans, insurers, providers, third-party administrators, medical management companies, and others. TCS is recognized as one of the premier health care software companies in the United States designing, offering, and hosting a number of products and services. The TCS Acuity Advanced Care® application provides a comprehensive and integrated care management software system for Utilization Management (UM), Case Management (CM), Disease Management (DM), and Prevention/Wellness (PW) services.
For more information: (530) 886-1700; www.tcshealthcare.com.
American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians, Inc. (ABQAURP), is a non-profit education and certification board that has certified over 9,800 physicians, nurses and other health care professionals in Health Care Quality Management (HCQM) and Patient Safety. Established in 1977, ABQAURP is the nation’s largest organization of interdisciplinary healthcare professionals. ABQAURP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) as a provider of Continuing Medical Education, and by the Florida Board of Nursing as a provider of Nursing Credit. For more information: (800) 998-6030; www.abqaurp.org.
Case Management Society of America (CMSA), established in 1990, is the leading non-profit association dedicated to the support and development of the profession of case management. CMSA serves more than 11,000 members, 20,000 subscribers, and 75 chapters through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy and establishing standards to advance the profession.
For more information: www.cmsa.org; Twitter @CMSANational.