Health plans today are faced with a challenging task: they must engage with broad, diverse populations to secure actionable health data on members’ health, including risks for chronic conditions such as heart disease, pre-diabetes and colorectal cancer (CRC).
Health plans that implement technology-driven engagement strategies stand to gain significant benefits. Mobile and digital healthcare technologies are powerful tools for educating members, inspiring them to participate in regular health screenings and supplying convenient methods to help them take an active role in their care. According to population health expert Ashley Reynolds, PhD, RN, engagement is about shifting from being a passive recipient to an active participant in one’s health. For example, a person living with diabetes could be considered engaged when they actively participate in their treatment plan, learn as much as they can about their condition and practice routine self-management.
One of the most basic ways health plans can use technology to close care gaps, increase member engagement and improve quality ratings is by encouraging members to participate in regular health screenings for key risk areas. Screening a higher percentage of the population more regularly will help identify at-risk members, intervene earlier and achieve improved outcomes.
Health plans must also determine the most effective strategies to target and engage their diverse member populations in screenings – from millennials to the elderly. A one-size-fits-all approach to engagement won’t lead to long-term success. Instead, health plans must take a multi-faceted approach and connect with the right member, though the right channel, with the right message, at the right time. Focusing engagement strategies on these populations may be difficult, but it can also have the most significant impact on population health improvement and care gap closure.
Read our white paper to learn how innovative health plans are leveraging digital engagement strategies and convenient, at-home screening programs to close care gaps and improve quality.