Keeping your patients engaged is more important in today’s health environment than it has been in previous decades. High deductibles mean that more patients are paying out-of-pocket expenses. In turn, they want to feel as if they are a decision-maker for their own plan of care. Patient motivation to return for care and keep their health as a priority is essential for their quality of life.
It’s also essential for the fiscal health of your practice. According to APTA research, 87% of physical therapists find that patient engagement improves their patient outcomes. 70% of health care leaders think engagement should be a priority. You would think that every clinic would have implemented a patient engagement framework! But research states that only 35% have discovered (or acted on) the importance.
As the industry moves toward value-based care versus fee-for-service care, optimizing your patient’s performance in and out of the office will be essential. Having your patients complete their home exercise plan will significantly improve their outcomes and lower clinic costs.Use this time to raise awareness in your practice of the importance of patient engagement. Educate yourself and your therapists on strategies to improve patient satisfaction, perception, and motivation.
This blog was curated by an article titled, "Physical Therapy Patient Engagement Framework" by integration Rehab Solutions. It was published on January 31, 2018 on integrarehasolutions.com. The original article can be found here.