How do people search for healthcare? What do they expect from their healthcare providers? How can you, as a healthcare provider, help patients get better, faster? Patient engagement statistics provide insights and answers to these questions and many more.
The way patients access healthcare and their expectations of healthcare professionals has changed dramatically over the past few years. Just look at the trend of going to a family doctor – 85% of baby boomers have a family doctor, but just 55% of people born after 1997 can say the same.
Patient engagement statistics help investigate these trends and provide you with the data you need as a healthcare provider to make informed decisions about how best to improve your practice’s own patient engagement. The data can help drive decisions that:
- Increase patients’ access to your healthcare services
- Reduce hurdles to accessing care (such as cost)
- Develop targeted treatment goals and improve outcomes
- Build confidence with patients through better communication
Here are five patient engagement statistics that can inform your engagement strategy to better meet evolving patient needs.
1. Engaged Patients Are Less Likely to Have Unmet Needs
Studies have shown that patients who are more engaged with their healthcare providers are more proactive about their healthcare. In real-world terms that means people are more likely to go for check-ups, get their immunizations, and get diagnostic tests done on time.
Conversely, less engaged patients are 3x more likely to have unmet medical needs. They are also 2x as likely to delay getting care, compared to patients who like to actively participate in their treatment.
It’s vital that patients ask questions about their condition and make informed decisions about their care.
2. Phones Are Becoming the Primary Point of Contact
There are over 325,000 mobile health apps available on smartphones, tablets, and computers today.
People expect to use their phones to identify symptoms, talk to healthcare providers and get text message reminders for appointments. Patient expectations regarding online booking and payment have also grown to the point where it’s considered standard to have these systems in place. The risk of not meeting those expectations? Lower patient satisfaction scores.
3. Patients Prefer Virtual Care, Even for Complex Needs
A survey found 26% of people receive routine mental healthcare virtually; 24% get treatment for major physical injuries and chronic diseases over the internet.
It points to an ever-increasing trend of people being more comfortable with taking tests at home, video conferencing with their doctors, and looking at their health records online.
4. Data From Wearables Can Improve Quality of Care
Data privacy has been a major concern with tech, but when it comes to medicine, patients are happy to share data with their doctors. Over 60% of people said they are willing to share health records from wearables with their doctors if it helps improve their health.
That means instead of relying solely on diagnostic tests spaced weeks or months apart you can get real-time insight into your patients’ health.
5. Healthy people are seeking virtual care
Think patients only visit doctors when they are unwell? People who consider their health to be “excellent” or “very good” are proactive about using digital tools to stay healthy.
Healthcare practices are turning to automated text messages and emails to remind patients to check in with their doctors regularly. And virtual consultations have made “seeing the doctor” less stressful and more routine.
Using Patient Engagement Statistics to Enhance Care
Patient engagement statistics are vital information for any healthcare provider looking to improve satisfaction scores and treatment outcomes.
Adracare’s patient engagement solutions help healthcare providers, like you, take full advantage of this shift towards telehealth:
- Book appointments online, video conference, and share documents with patients from a single platform.
- Enhance your engagement strategy with features like unlimited text message reminders.
- Reduce digital clutter with a platform that doesn’t force your or your patients to download apps or software on their devices.
Find out how Adracare can transform how you engage with your patients. Start your free trial today.
