The term “consumer” is most commonly associated with the retail, hospitality, or entertainment industries. In terms of customer satisfaction, consumers are simply looking to be listened to, treated with respect, and communicated with in a way that they can understand.

Healthcare can be considered the largest consumer-facing industry, with the patient experience taking center stage in how a facility is perceived from the consumer viewpoint. Providers must find the right balance between “giving the people what they want” and what is actually good or medically recommended for a patient, while also properly opening up the lines of communication between patients and their caregivers.

There is a growing patient expectation for physicians and facilities to utilize accessible digital tools to provide more efficient care. Each generation is more technologically-savvy than the last, and although millennials have led the charge in terms of tech adoption, recent analysis has seen an upward swing in older generations embracing the digital age as well – particularly as their health needs continue to increase with age.

In 2018, 67% of Baby Boomers (the generation born between 1946-64) said they owned a smartphone, as opposed to only 25% back in 2011. Tablet and social media usage also increased over this period to over 50% in each category.

Rising tech use is not only limited to hitting the Like button on Facebook posts. The use of fitness measurement and health monitoring tools (websites, apps, wearables, etc) jumped from 17 percent in 2013 to 42 percent in 2018.

Consumer-Friendly Healthcare

Enabled by expanding technology, previously passive patients of all ages have evolved into active participants in their care. These consumers want faster and frictionless experiences both inside and outside of facility walls, with high expectations of simplified tech interactions due to the growing popularity of online banking, shopping, and flight-booking.

Engaging these patients using easy-to-use platforms is key in maximizing retention rates in an increasingly customer-focused world. The pure convenience of being able to schedule an appointment through an online portal or application cannot be ignored and is considered paramount in producing a seamless patient experience from beginning to end. In turn, the consumerization of healthcare not only aids patients on their own medical journey, but also gives providers the opportunity to improve efficiency in their practice.

Brand Loyalty

Technology is not the only area spotlighted by rising patient expectation of care facilities. Overall service has a heightened consequence regarding the return of a patient, just as customers at a restaurant or retail store can become repeat visitors or “regulars” based solely on a positive experience provided by the staff or store.

There are some basic generational differences in this “brand loyalty”, whether to a specific provider or an overall facility. In particular, younger generations are more likely to jump from provider to provider if they feel their care needs are not being met technologically or via the human touch.

Regardless of age, building better relationships with patients is not only good for business and retention rates, but is also good for a patient’s overall health.

Patient Empowerment

While patients may not have the same educational background or experience regarding healthcare as their caregivers, they do have the power to track their own data and make decisions regarding which provider will join them on their medical journey.

The use of a patient engagement platform like CarePassport could give providers an edge over their competition. Facilities that provide a secure platform integrated with their EMR not only allow easier access for patients to collect their medical data, but help enable an all-encompassing bilateral exchange of information, including images and wearable device data.

Patients can enjoy a more consumer-friendly experience with the assistance of CarePassport, becoming engaged and empowered with abilities to book appointments, check-in virtually, sign paperwork, and communicate directly with their providers, even when they are beyond the facility’s walls.

As for any last few tech holdouts without a smartphone to download CarePassport (onto iOS or Android devices) – patients can still access all the same tools and information via web browser, or can even act as a proxy for a family member.

But make sure they’ve asked Grandma if she actually wants her own smartphone first – they may be surprised at the answer!

Written by Stephanie Girard

Gaining access to your medical history is your right as a U.S. citizen. But, because providers have different systems in place for storing Electronic Health Records (EHR), there isn’t a standard process for doctors to share patient information with other doctors.

There are a variety of reasons why patients would need to transfer medical data to a new doctor:

• They’ve moved to a new location (not within driving distance to current doctor)
• Their primary care physician referred them to a specialist
• They need to share medical images from a recent surgery

There has been progress to make medical records accessible and transferable for patients. For example, meaningful use of electronic health records is a national goal under the HITECH Act, an effort led by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC)

Are you curious about transferring your medical records to new provider? We’re going to walk you through the steps and show you how to save time with even quicker solutions.

How to transfer your health records between doctors

It’s likely your new and prior doctor both have EHR systems to store your medical data. But each may use different software vendors, making encrypted transfers incompatible.

In this case, you’ll want to manually request and transfer your records. That means getting a hard copy file, usually in a CD or flash drive, and delivering it to your new doctor.

You may also request your medical records to be sent through the mail to your new doctor. Whichever the case, below are the basic steps you’ll take (with a few tips included).

Ask your new doctor if they follow a certain process

Start by asking questions of your new provider. Do they have authorization documents for you to fill out or send to your former doctor? Do they prefer to receive CDs rather than hard copy files? Find out what’s needed so you don’t have to re-do the process later.

Check if you can download your medical records from a patient portal

Do you have access to a patient portal from your past doctor? You may be able to download your medical record directly from the portal in XML or PDF format. This could save a lot of time.

If you can’t download directly form the portal, you should be able to request your medical records instead of filling out a release form in-person. Be sure to call your doctor’s office and ask what’s the best way.

Request your medical records in hard copy and digital file formats

Use this opportunity to request copies of your medical record for yourself as well. Continuity of Care Documents (CCDs) can typically be shared in CDs, PDFs and XML formats. Then you can deliver the records to your new doctor as they prefer.

Prepare for a wait period (and expenses)

There may be a significant wait time to receive or transfer your records. If you’re moving to a new location, it’s best to request them in advance. Some providers may also charge a fee for burning CDs.

Store and organize your medical data in a secure platform

Once you’ve gone through this process, you won’t want to repeat it for the same provider. There are many apps and free software available to patients, so they can store their data and share it with new providers. CarePassport is a free software (with an app and web portal) to store medical data. Find out more about us here.

Quicker ways to share your medical records

Downloading PDFs. Burning CDs. Filling out release forms.

It all sounds out-of-date, doesn’t it? That’s because the healthcare industry is notoriously “behind the times” when it comes to interoperability and exchange of health information.

But there is hope on the horizon for patients. Health technology advocates, government organizations, and innovators are pushing to bring our health systems into the modern era.

All of the focus is on patient experience. And rightfully giving consumers easy access to their medical data, so they can have better awareness and control of their healthcare outcomes.

FHIR: the new standard for sharing medical records with patients

The Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is the latest standard developed by the HL7 organization. It gives health IT developers the ability to connect with providers’ EHR systems, making it easier to download full medical histories through secure mobile and software applications.

In other words, as a patient, you can use health technology tools to access, store, utilize, and share your medical records.

Currently, there are 190 hospitals systems (including their affiliated facilities) that have adopted FHIR. If your provider is included, then you may be able to access and transfer your medical records easier than before.

By utilizing Healthcare IT solutions, patients won’t have to request medical records from numerous providers more than once. They can store their information securely in cloud-based platforms. And share that data with new providers quickly.

CarePassport integrates with FHIR-enabled healthcare providers. New users can download directly from their providers’ EHR systems and automatically organize (and transfer) medical data in one place. Want to check it out? Read about it on our website and Create a free account today.

An optimal patient engagement strategy enables a process of care that allows the patient to be active, get involved and stay engaged.

A patient-centric approach means developing a culture of involvement that responds to patients’ capacity, skills, knowledge, and ability to manage their own health. This concept is currently at the center of healthcare organizations’ top priorities and can be traced back to the Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act links performance to reimbursement. Providers are paid partly based on how patients rate them. A patient-focused environment increases satisfaction, which leads to a higher level of success and increased reimbursement.

The Patient First

Patient involvement must first be defined before it can be improved upon. Although the definition of patient engagement varies, there are a few key concepts behind personalizing healthcare.

Participation

This means getting the patient to say “yes” and take a more active role in their healthcare. Participation also extends to friends and family. They need to be aware and engaged to assist the patient. Participation should also be continuous and sustained over time for a personalized approach that is effective.

Management

This is about getting the patient to act on their healthcare choices, despite difficulty or hardship. Management should be continuous and can be optimized through tools like the patient-centered app CarePassport. Offering easy appointment setting, check-in, and access to all of their medical data, tools like this make management and patient engagement much easier.

Self-Efficacy

It’s about getting patients to grow from their healthcare experience and fostering skills designed to better manage their health. A patient’s sustained participation coupled with the right tools will ultimately lead to a level of self-efficacy in their care.

Well-Being

A satisfactory condition of existence is the ultimate goal of patient engagement. Participation, sustained management, and self-efficacy should all lead to a better outcome for the patient. The reward far exceeds the effort and personalizing healthcare is the way to get there.

Engaging Through Technology

Patients are expecting to be met in a digital arena. The best way to personalize healthcare is to put it in the palm of someone’s hand.

• 80% of Americans who have access to their electronic health records use it; and 2/3 of those who don’t say they want it.
• 69% of U.S. adults track a health indicator with a digital tool (like wearables).
• 1 in 3 adults have gone online to figure out a medical condition.

The most organized means of modern communication is in the form of a smartphone. Engaging patients through technology involves swiftly and efficiently meeting their needs. This creates a better level of care, a higher turnover rate, and more successful outcomes.

Using a patient engagement app like CarePassport means creating convenience for patients. People can make more informed decisions when they have direct access to their records and medical data. You can use a mobile device to engage patients through an app with things like:

• Appointment setting and easy check-in.
• On-demand access to comprehensive health data.
• Resources for educational information.
• Sync with wearables for easy tracking.
• Facilitate communication with other providers.

A patient-centric approach means making the patient feel like they have control. The best way to do that is with a smart app that helps them better manage their own care. Patient engagement technology can have a variety of advantages, like:

• Improves responsiveness
• Strengthens patient-physician relationships
• Show and Tell diagnostics
• Remote monitoring of patient health and progress
• Easy feedback

The majority of adults now use technology to engage in their healthcare, so it only makes sense for providers to get on board. Not only can an app like CarePassport save you time and money, it creates an environment where the patient is consistently motivated to work towards optimal health. And that’s the best place for them to be.

Living with a chronic condition can be challenging and anything that can alleviate stress is a welcome solution. These efforts are clinically defined as Chronic Care Management (CCM) and are a critical component of primary care.

CCM applies to anyone living with two or more conditions that are expected to last at least a year. In America alone, 117 million adults have two or more chronic conditions that require continuous management. The need to frequently manage care can pose some difficulties unless you have proper planning. You also need the right tools, including a way to organize, track and share your medical information.

The Struggles of Chronic Care Management

The amount of time and effort needed to manage yours or your loved one’s care can be exhausting. It can seem like there are never enough hours in the day for good health. CCM has more complexity than regular care and individuals often struggle to manage multiple priorities. Here are some of the common complaints for people living with CCM and how an app like CarePassport can help:

Multiple Doctors

Seeing multiple specialists over the course of the month means a lot of information and paperwork, and keeping it organize (don’t lose anything!) can be daunting. CCM is a collaborative effort between providers that can have you running all over town. Proper, continuous care means you need a system in place.

Your CCM health plan should include all providers’ information, family, caregivers, and a list of conditions. Having an app for chronic care management is a great solution for ensuring all medical data is in one place and accessible. Not to mention, it’s all in the palm of your hand. If you need to quickly pull up records from one doctor to the next, it’s as easy as pulling out your phone.

An app can also increase communication between your specialists. The simpler it is to share info, the better the collaboration to improve you or your loved one’s condition. And that’s always a win-win for everyone.

Accurate Data

Keeping track of everything going on in a chronic condition can be tough. You may find yourself reporting inaccurate info about you or your loved one’s health from one provider to the next. When you have so much information from so many sources,, there is bound to be an error or missing data.

A tool for continuous and uninterrupted management, like the CarePassport app, will mean medical information will be consistent from one doctor to the next. You don’t have to worry about reciting a list every time you or your loved one sees a new caregiver . You can store, share and access clinical reports, lab results and x-ray images right inside the app.

Resources

Bouncing between specialists means hearing and reading a lot of medical jargon. This can leave patients feeling confused and not in control of their situation. A recent study found that more than 85% of patients who were able to view their provider’s notes through a secure patient portal reported feeling more in control of their care and having a better standard of well-being. There is power in information and understanding the data surrounding a chronic condition is critical to continuous care.

A patient-centric app like CarePassport is like having a medical library at your fingertips. An app can provide resources for educational materials and help you understand terminology. It can even deliver information on your daily health by synching up with a wearable.

CCM is continual, and you need to be able to connect with providers, access records and track progress to maintain a positive state of health. Using an app for chronic care management gives you that connection and access.. In a world driven by digital interactions, this is naturally the next step in successfully managing a chronic condition.

As paper becomes less manageable, keeping track of your medical records can be challenging. In fact, two out of three patients would switch to a provider that offers easy access to their data. There are a variety of advantages to owning a medical wallet (like a free patient engagement app). With the convenience of history in your hand, here are a few ways it can make your life easier:

All in One Place

Keeping track of who you saw and where you went can get daunting. Especially if you ever experience an illness and have to see several doctors. With a patient engagement app, you can aggregate all of your records into one spot that is easily accessed from your phone. Additionally, it’s independent from the electronic medical record (EMR) system so it can be used across different facilities.

Secure Medical Records

People want instant access to data at the touch of a finger. Why should medical information be any different? CarePassport is encrypted with the same security as financial institutions, so storing and viewing your medical records are always 100% safe. Even x-rays can be viewed right from your phone using state-of-the-art DICOM viewing technology.

Superb Time Management

You’re right on schedule for an appointment with a new specialist, but there’s a line. As you sit down with a bunch of forms, you realize you forgot your records. Now, the appointment needs to be rescheduled and you’ve just wasted a ton of time. Patient-driven technology can help solve all of these pain points.

A patient engagement app will always give you access to your records, so you can effortlessly manage and share them between facilities. This is especially convenient when you are seeing specialists and managing a lot of documents. Additionally, there is no wait in line with CarePassport. If your facility is aligned with your app, all you have to do is scan your QR code and you’re signed in.

Sharing Facilitates Care

The ability to securely share medical data with caregivers is truly what brings our technology to the 21^st century. It allows you to partner with providers and take an active role in your own care. You can freely share with your physicians, and any other people you choose.

Convenience in Your Pocket

Simplicity leads to convenience. No more printed pamphlets, carting around film x-rays, or making multiple calls to the office. The ease of a patient engagement app like CarePassport is that everything you need to do for your health is in one spot. It can sync to your fitness wearables to keep you on track and give you access to records and data like lab results, radiology images, clinical reports, allergies, medication, vitals and more…

Why Should I Try This?

We download applications every day, but rarely will one affect our life quite like a patient engagement app. Part of maintaining good healthcare is awareness. Understanding how we’re doing at all times. CarePassport puts the control of your health back in your hands. There’s a multitude of reasons to check it out:

• CarePassport is offered for free to patients
• Everything has gone digital. Even your doctor is waiting for you to catch up!
• Enable you to get involved with your own treatment process. No one knows your health better than you
• It allows you to make more informed and personalized medical decisions
• You’ll receive better health outcomes from remaining engaged
• It allows for ongoing healthcare and responds to your wearables
• The list goes on…

There is no denying the medical process can cause anxiety. That may never go away but at least you can alleviate it. Apps like CarePassport open up a new world of health management that puts the reins in the hands where they belong: yours.

Your treatment process is a very personal thing. You should be allowed to manage, store, and share any records that pertain to your individual self. A free patient engagement app is going to get you there. And when it comes to organization, the priority should always be your health!