Why Leading Health Systems are Prioritizing Patient-Facing Digital Health Tools

The Center for Connected Medicine, a thought-leadership incubator and content hub of which UPMC is a partner, recently released research highlighting the need for comprehensive digital patient experience.

Patients increasingly expect their healthcare providers to offer apps and other digital health tools to assist with a multitude of tasks, including making appointments, checking their personal health data, messaging care teams, and accessing virtual care.

Health systems recognize the need to meet patient expectations, according to a recent survey from the Center for Connected Medicine (CCM).

The survey, conducted in partnership with HIMSS Media, indicates healthcare leaders understand the importance of prioritizing digital tools. Three-quarters of 136 IT, business, and clinical stakeholders surveyed in September 2019 had deployed at least one digital health tool to patients.

Defined as apps, wearables, web tools, connected devices and telehealth platforms, patient-facing digital tools are a critical or high priority for half of the survey respondents.

But despite making digital tools a priority, the CCM research finds the tools deployed by health systems may not be meeting patient expectations. Fewer than 1-in-3 respondents believe their organization is providing a best-in-class digital experience for patients.

Read more about the research findings and download the report from the CCM’s website.