Consumerism has contributed to making outpatient care the fastest growing healthcare sector, with the number of procedures occurring in ASCs increasing from 50 percent in 1990 to nearly 66 percent in 2014, according to an article published in Surgical Products.
As patients expect more consumer-friendly healthcare, most healthcare organizations consider improving consumer experience a top priority, wrote Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies' Melinda Thiel.
Here are four takeaways on adapting to consumerism:
1. JJMDC CareAdvantage developed five principles: access, coordinate, inform, navigate and partner.
2. Healthcare providers can leverage digital platforms and tools to carry out these five principles. Technology can "expand access, improve coordination, elevate information, streamline navigation and enhance partnership with clinicians and other caregivers," Ms. Thiel said.
3. JJMDC recommends healthcare providers thoroughly map out a patient's journey through surgery — especially elective surgery — to improve outcomes. Patients should be guided through six distinct stages: wellbeing before surgery, decision about surgery, preparation for surgery, surgery, recovery and wellbeing after surgery.
4. JJMDC also developed the Health Partner platform to help patients prepare for surgery, connect with their healthcare team and provide personalized patient care. It guides the process for knee, hip or weight loss surgery from preparation to recovery.