Empowering Families Through Patient Engagement

Patient engagement is a foundation of effective healthcare delivery. It is not simply about how patients interact with providers but also about how families get involved in their loved ones’ care journeys.

At HelloHealth, we believe empowering families can improve patients’ experiences, communication, and overall health outcomes.

What is Patient Engagement for Families?

Patient engagement typically refers to interactions between healthcare providers and patients. However, when family involvement is encouraged, the term implies how families can get involved in the healthcare process. This may include assisting patients with understanding their treatment options, making appointments, medication management, and advocacy for loved ones.

Research shows that family involvement might enhance the quality of medical care, especially for individuals with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and children.

The digital age makes it easier for families to remain engaged in a patient’s healthcare journey. Tools such as patient portals, telemedicine, and mobile health apps like hellohealth connect patients, their families, and providers.

Why Family Engagement Is Important

Family members are often a support system, particularly for vulnerable populations. When engaged, families monitor the patient’s health status, encourage medication adherence, and facilitate follow-up appointments. This leads to:

1. Improved Health Outcomes: Families can advocate for better care and help patients manage chronic conditions or recover from procedures. 

A study from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that patients with strong family support have fewer hospital readmissions and better management of chronic illness.

2. Better Communication: Families are often the intermediary between patient and healthcare team. They can help decipher difficult medical terms, remember instructions, and make sure all concerns are heard. 

Digital tools such as hellohealth allow families to view medical records, communicate with healthcare providers, and aid in treatment planning.

3. Emotional Support: Beyond the clinical aspects, families provide emotional support to reduce anxiety, especially for patients undergoing long treatments or surgeries. Having family present or available, in person or virtually, can be comforting and motivating for patients.

Digital Tools for Family Engagement

In an age of digital transformation, technology drives patient and family engagement. Hellohealth provides a Digital Front Door solution to increase healthcare accessibility for patients and families. 

Here’s how digital tools can help increase family involvement:

Patient Portals: Such online services enable family members with proper permissions to access a loved one’s health information, view test results, make an appointment, and track medication compliance. hellohealth’s app is one example of how families can stay informed and involved.

Telehealth Services: With virtual visits, families can attend appointments without being physically present. This is particularly useful for adult children caring for elderly parents or busy parents who manage their children’s health.

Apps for Care Coordination: Family members can coordinate care using mobile apps, set medication reminders, or create schedules for caregiving tasks. This helps with communication and makes caregiving a team effort.

Families Engaged Through the HelloHealth’s Digital Front Door

hellohealth’s Digital Store Front is a full-service engagement platform that connects families with the healthcare system. Family members can use this platform to:

• Access health data and clinical notes in real-time so they are always updated on the patient’s status.
  
• Write to health providers on behalf of loved ones using secure messaging.
  
• Track appointments and prescriptions so family members can follow treatment plans.
  
• Fill out forms and register online.

hellohealth believes that digital experiences for patients and families are the future of healthcare. By offering these tools, we help families support each other, stay informed and participate in health decisions.

Family engagement is a key driver of patient success. Families actively participating in care results in better outcomes, better communication and emotional support for all involved.

hellohealth’s commitment to improving patient engagement for families through its digital tools enables patients and loved ones to take control of their healthcare experience.

As healthcare evolves, family involvement in patient care will only become more important. With platforms like hellohealth, families are no longer passive participants – they are partners in ensuring better health outcomes for their loved ones.