With reduced face-to-face participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have expanded their use of telehealth technology and other digital channels to maintain their health, which may increase demand for more digital interaction in the future

With reduced face-to-face participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have expanded their use of telehealth technology and other digital channels to maintain their health, which may increase demand for more digital interaction in the future. Statistically speaking, 83.3% of patients have used online patient portals to access test results during Covid-19.While these patient support programs do not substitute healthcare providers, they offer a reliable and valued complement of information that is needed more than ever. Patient engagement fosters trust among patients and those who treat them, and it is essential to ensuring continuity of care. At times of a global pandemic, patient engagement plays a vital role.

Let us look at some importance of patient engagement and some strategies to help guide patients and protect staff during the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Importance

• Patient engagement is essential to encourage each patient to make decisions about options available with them for health care.
• Medical staff works more efficiently with patients when you have a strategy to improve patient engagement.
• Good patient engagement leads to better recovery, decreased hospitalization, and lower treatment costs.
• For self-practice, it is suggested to use EHR as hospital software and as part of your patient engagement efforts.
• Activate the patient portal in the EHR to enable patients to interact more effectively with your staff and be a part of the connected care system.

Let us understand how to execute patient engagement successfully during this pandemic.

Engagement Strategies

• Use broadcast products to share information about COVID-19, evolving office policies, prevention strategies, and when to schedule a doctor's appointment. 
• Engage patients with high risk. Patients with chronic conditions, immunosuppressive patients, and anyone 60 years of age or older must be aware that they are at higher risk if they become infected with COVID-19. You can identify patients with high-risk conditions and automatically send tailored messages to each subset of patients.
• Use an online survey to help screen patients and reduce call volumes. When you digitize patient screening, a simple text message is all that is needed to screen patients. Facilitating on-going contact between patients and physicians via telehealth, telemedicine, and online portals can increase engagement rates by 60% or more.
• Engage with quarantine patients. Automate daily visits to patients diagnosed with COVID-19, asking them questions to determine if symptoms are progressing. It will help avoid needless hospitalization while ensuring that patients in need of emergency treatment are quickly sorted out.

Conclusion