Jennifer Lundblad, President & CEO, Stratis Health
Over the past decade, there has been a lot of talk about consumerism and engaging patients and families in health care. Yet many clinicians, health care organizations, and patients have not had the knowledge and resources (and in some cases, the motivation) to know how to move forward.
Now, we are finally turning that corner. A number of things are converging which indicate the shift toward patient engagement is underway…
Health care delivery organizations are beginning to have some of their payment based on how well their patients perceive their care to be; the most powerful example of this is CMS’ Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, launched last year, which rewards hospitals for excellent performance, of which the HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems) score comprises nearly one third of the total performance rating for a hospital. In addition, the current EHR Meaningful Use stage 1 criteria include items that emphasize the importance of patient engagement, including requirements for an after visit summary for patients after each health care encounter. More focused and intense requirements are anticipated in Stage 2, including online access for patients to their information
Beyond payment and requirements, we are seeing and reading more and more about patient engagement. It is striking and timely that the entire February 2013 issue of Health Affairs is devoted to patient engagement…entitled “New Era of Patient Engagement.” Articles and topics range from shared decision making, to the linkage between patient activation and health care costs, to new models of more patient-centered care delivery.
It is an exciting time to be working to improve quality in health care, and to reach the long overdue turning point toward patient engagement as the next “blockbuster drug.”
