Engaging Patients through EHRs

Engaging patients in their healthcare and involving their families alike is the main priority of healthcare providers in today’s healthcare scenario. The term Patient Engagement implies the involvement of patients and makes them realize the importance of being more responsible towards their healthcare information. This, in turn, is also related to specific benefits and certain conditions and standards that eligible providers have to meet.

The engagement of patients and their families in the patients’ healthcare is a prominent goal of the EHR Incentive Program. Implementing meaningful use of IT is the second of five health policy priorities that aims to improve patient engagement and enhance  quality care. It also encourages the idea of involving patients’ families because many patients depend on them for  support.  Healthcare providers find that the use of certified EHR technologies will make health information available to their patients and their families. 

 

Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirement suggests that providers to increase the use of patient portals and enhance email communication between physicians and patients. This makes providers to work  hard to meet MU requirement in a timely fashion. But, there are many challenges that providers and healthcare IT service providers are facing alike. For instance, according to a report in the US, nearly half of American adults do not adequately understand the written health information on patient portals. Second, according to The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the number of people in the U.S. who speak a language other than English has grown by 140 percent over the last few decades. Thus, providers and IT vendors are seeking ways to overcome these challenges in the future, as well as to engage more patients, and improve ways for better care.