For most, hospitalization is a scary proposition. Even if admitted for a specific procedure, the reality of interrupted routines and sleep patterns plus constant poking and prodding makes even the most compliant of patients anxious for discharge.
Yet, according to a recent New York Times article, patients should be very leery of a rapid discharge as there is a high likelihood that something could go wrong.
Statistics show that one-fifth of Medicare patients are readmitted within 30 days of discharge, and one-third are readmitted within 90 days. One study found that 20 percent of patients have a complication within three weeks of leaving the hospital — more than half of which could have been prevented.
Doctors have the unenviable job of determining which patients are not only medically ready for home care but also reliable enough to resume medications, attend follow-up appointments and continue to self-monitor symptoms.
Hospital systems utilizing Get Real Health’s InstantPHR have the tools to make the transition from hospital to home not only less complicated, but safer.
With a host of features designed to foster open lines of communication between patients and caregivers, InstantPHR is effective whether an individual is leaving the hospital for home care or a rehab facility.
Traditional discharge summaries are pages long and difficult for patients to decipher, but the InstantPHR dashboard brings that data to life with graphs, charts, icons and graphics.
For instance, our action plans allow physicians to create goals and tasks individualized for the patient. The patient, in turn, receives alerts and reminders pertaining to these set tasks and can easily see what they have completed and what is outstanding.
Health journals also play an important part in capturing feedback such as mood, sleep and pain. These factors are invaluable in creating a true picture of a patient’s health. Weaving this data with more traditional medical information lets physicians employ a holistic approach to treatment. Additionally, InstantPHR’s custom survey capability can save time by capturing pre-admission data as well as critical feedback regarding a patient’s hospital stay upon discharge.
With all patient data—including labs, medications, readings, action plans and health journals — in one place, doctors can see trends in behavior and conditions and intervene before serious complications set in. The secure messaging feature encourages a dialogue between patients and caregivers. Get Real Health’s partner, VSee, takes that dialogue one step further by facilitating a virtual appointment so providers and patients can communicate face-to-face outside office walls if necessary.
Reducing patient readmission rates is one of the primary challenges facing the healthcare industry today. However, with products like InstantPHR, hospital systems can make strides in curbing readmissions and realizing healthier outcomes overall.
