We all have our own personal experiences with healthcare. For some, it’s been positive; for others, not so much. But what different experiences do these people have? It depends on who you ask. In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the unique viewpoint of patients and how they experience healthcare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 70 million Americans suffer from chronic disease, which includes conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and asthma. And as the population continues to grow older, it just gets worse. If you want to learn more about the patient perspective in healthcare, keep reading!
What’s the problem with healthcare in America?
Healthcare in America is a critical issue. We spend an average of $9,000 per person on healthcare annually, which is much more than any other developed country. Because of this, we have some of the highest health care costs in the world. Not only are our costs higher, but it takes longer to see a doctor in the U.S. than it does in most other countries. One of the biggest issues with healthcare in the U.S. is access to care. While it may not be a problem for everyone, there are still plenty of people who live in areas without access to quality care. For example, rural areas are often home to healthcare deserts, which are areas with little to no access to medical professionals. This often means patients have to wait longer to see a doctor, especially specialists.
How does this affect patients?
As a patient, you’re dealing with a lot of stress. You’re in pain, you have a long list of questions, and you’re probably not feeling your best. Now add in medical jargon, confusing insurance processes, and a ton of paperwork. And after all of that, you’re often seen as just another number in the system. The fact is, healthcare experiences can be very personal. But more often than not, they’re also standardized, highly regulated, and only focused on the immediate problem at hand. Though patients want their care to be as effective as possible, they aren’t always given the opportunity to feel involved in their own health. Ultimately, what this experience lacks is a sense of humanity.
How can technology help?
As technology advances, it’s offering new ways to improve patient care. But to really benefit from these advances, we need to understand how patients interact with technology. Patients today use a lot of different devices and platforms to get health information, stay organized, and communicate with their care team. But many of these tools are disjointed, leading to an inconsistent experience. Health technology can help bridge these gaps. It can be used to integrate patient data and information from other providers, as well as provide a single source of information.
Bottom line
Health technology can help bridge gaps in patient data and information, but it’s important to make sure patients are getting the most out of their experience. When designing health solutions, it’s important to keep the patient’s perspective in mind. You can do this by ensuring your solution addresses the following: – What are the pain points in this experience? – How can we make them better? And most importantly, how can we make patients feel heard? If we can do this, we’ll be on the right track to improving the patient experience.
